Kenya has opened a new embassy in Dakar, Senegal, the first in French-speaking countries.
Outgoing Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma inaugurated the new mission on Tuesday, a station she said will deepen relations with the western African country.
“This is a historic station, opened to deepen our relations with Senegal, a country we share historical ties and strong Pan-African and democratic credentials,” Juma said.
She added that the embassy and will also create a link to the French-speaking West Africa region.
“I congratulate the first Kenya team in Dakar led by Amb Purity Muhindi. I have no doubt that this well-selected team will fly our Kenyan flag high,” Juma said.
The CS added that Senegalese President Macky Sall thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta for opening a mission in the country, and expressed his strong commitment to strengthen the historical bonds between the two countries and peoples, and their cooperation at the continental and global levels.
Juma was in Senegal for the C10 meeting on UNSC reforms.
Kenya had anticipated opening the embassy in 2018, but it was not until last year that President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed an ambassador to Senegal.
“In talks with President Sall during the G7 Summit in June 2018, Uhuru said Senegal is important to the expansion of trade, especially through the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
“The AfCFTA deal we agreed in Kigali has to be supported by bilateral actions so we are reaching out to Senegal to expand our trade frontiers and boost people-to-people relations necessary for trade,” he said.
