Senegal’s Faye calls for African-led security and resource control at Dakar peace forum

In his opening address in Dakar, Faye said Africa must stop being “the centre of rivalries between major powers” and instead become an active player in shaping global balances.

“Africa must no longer be content with being the centre of rivalries between major powers,” he said. “We must become dynamic and full-fledged actors in the reconfiguration of global balances.”

The Senegalese leader welcomed high-level guests, including Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, the current ECOWAS chair, and Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, who attended as guests of honour.

Faye painted a grim picture of 2026, citing the war in Gaza, rising economic protectionism and growing threats linked to terrorism, cybercrime and climate change.

He said true sovereignty must be strategic, economic and increasingly digital, calling on African states to stop allowing external actors to dictate priorities.

The President also urged African countries to use their mineral and energy resources to drive local industrialisation instead of fuelling industries abroad.

“From lithium to cobalt, from oil to gas, from uranium to our fisheries wealth, our resources must no longer solely fuel industries elsewhere,” he said, calling for extraction, processing and value addition to happen on the continent.

Faye said no country can tackle emerging security threats alone, calling for stronger collective action and African-led solutions.

He outlined a six-point roadmap that includes strengthening conflict prevention and early warning, operationalising regional and continental standby forces with better funding, boosting regional solidarity to curb the spread of terrorism, investing in youth through education and skills, improving governance of energy and mineral resources, and accelerating integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063.

Faye linked peace and stability to development, saying security and development must move together to address poverty and inequalities that can fuel conflict.

The 10th edition of the Dakar Forum is being held under the theme: “Africa facing the challenges of stability, integration and sovereignty: what sustainable solutions?”

Faye urged participants to engage openly and push for concrete action, as the forum brings together heads of state, government officials, ambassadors and international partners for strategic dialogue on Africa’s security challenges.