DAKAR, Senegal — President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has commended Sahara Group for its longstanding partnership with Senegal and its contribution to strengthening the country’s energy security through its relationship with the Société Africaine de Raffinage (SAR).
President Faye described Sahara Group as a trusted and strategic partner in Senegal’s energy sector during a meeting with a delegation from the African energy conglomerate at the Presidential Palace in Dakar.
The Sahara delegation was led by Wale Ajibade, Executive Director, Sahara Group, and included Mamadou Abib Diop, Managing Director of SAR.
The meeting underscored the growing importance of reliable energy supply and resilient fuel value chains to Senegal’s economic development, particularly amid volatile international energy markets.
President Faye acknowledged Sahara Group’s Pan-African outlook and its sustained engagement with Senegal, particularly through its longstanding relationship with SAR.
“We appreciate Sahara’s dynamism, flexibility and constructive partnership with SAR, particularly its support in helping secure the country’s energy requirements amid challenging global market conditions,” Faye said.
Sahara Reaffirms Commitment to Senegal
Responding, Ajibade reaffirmed Sahara Group’s commitment to supporting Senegal’s energy security and broader economic ambitions.
He said the company was prepared to deploy its expertise, infrastructure, financing capabilities and operational experience to support Senegal’s evolving energy needs.
“Senegal has been an important partner for Sahara over the years, and we remain committed to deploying our expertise, infrastructure, financing capabilities and operational experience in ways that support the country’s energy ambitions,” Ajibade said.
“We are encouraged by the progress being made and look forward to deepening our partnership with SAR and other stakeholders across the energy value chain.”
Ajibade stressed that Sahara’s engagement in Senegal extends beyond its shareholding in SAR, reflecting the group’s broader Pan-African strategy of supporting energy access, industrial development and sustainable economic growth.
SAR Highlights Long-Term Partnership
Diop described Sahara as a reliable long-term partner that has made significant investments in Senegal and continues to contribute to the resilience of the country’s energy sector.
“Sahara Energy has invested significantly in Senegal over the years and remains a major and reliable partner. We are focused on strengthening our collaboration with Sahara to provide Senegal with greater flexibility in addressing the needs of the energy sector,” he said.
The SAR managing director also highlighted Sahara’s support for the refinery’s crude oil supply requirements, noting that the company has consistently worked with Senegalese stakeholders to navigate difficult market conditions and maintain supply reliability.
Energy Security Becomes Strategic Priority
The engagement comes as energy security remains a central issue for African economies seeking to reduce exposure to disruptions in global commodity markets and strengthen domestic refining and fuel supply systems.
For Senegal, SAR remains an important component of the country’s downstream petroleum infrastructure. Stronger partnerships across crude supply, refining, financing and energy trading could provide greater flexibility as the country seeks to meet rising energy demand and support industrial expansion.
The meeting between President Faye, Sahara Group and SAR therefore highlighted the strategic role that cross-border African energy partnerships can play in strengthening supply resilience.
It also reinforced the shared objective of developing a more reliable and integrated energy value chain capable of supporting Senegal’s long-term economic transformation.
With Sahara Group bringing together energy trading, infrastructure, financing and operational capabilities across several African markets, the partnership with Senegal could provide a platform for deeper collaboration as the country advances its energy and industrial development agenda.
