On June 12, 2025, the Prime Ministers of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, and of the Republic of Congo, Anatole Collinet Makosso, held a joint working session in Dakar to relaunch bilateral cooperation between their countries.
Reactivation of the Joint Mixed Commission
On June 12, 2025, the Prime Ministers of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, and the Republic of Congo, Anatole Collinet Makosso, held a joint working session in Dakar to revive bilateral cooperation between their countries. They decided to reactivate the joint mixed commission, which had been inactive since 2018, and to create an ad hoc committee tasked with exploring cooperation opportunities in strategic sectors such as energy, agriculture, and forestry.
A Priority on Intra-African Trade
The two heads of government emphasized the weakness of intra-African trade, which accounts for only 16% of the continent’s total trade, compared to 50 to 60% with extra-African partners. “We cannot guarantee the continent’s development if intra-continental trade remains so low,” stressed Anatole Collinet Makosso, advocating for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as a lever for economic diversification.
Historical and Cultural Cooperation
Between Dakar and Brazzaville
The Congolese Prime Minister recalled that Senegal and Congo share a “community of destiny” dating back to the 15th century, when Dakar and Loango were key hubs in the triangular trade. This historical relationship is today reinforced by agreements in the military, higher education, culture, and transport sectors.
Towards a More Cooperative and Integrated Diplomacy
Anatole Collinet Makosso insisted on the need to move “from representative diplomacy to cooperative diplomacy.” Both Prime Ministers expressed their desire to make the relationship between Brazzaville and Dakar a model of South-South cooperation, particularly within the framework of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). They hope to elevate their economies to a higher level and encourage shared economic development.
Perspectives for strengthened cooperation
The revival of exchanges between Senegal and Congo reflects a shared commitment to open new avenues of collaboration and to concretize partnerships in key sectors. The ad hoc committee will be tasked with proposing concrete actions to boost commercial and economic exchanges, with a special focus on supporting SMEs and valorizing natural resources.
This dynamic illustrates the two countries’ determination to strengthen their economic integration and contribute to a structural transformation of intra-African relations based on solidarity, fair trade, and sustainable development.
