In the run-up to the Youth Olympic Games that Senegal will host for Africa, sport diplomacy is a new instrument of influence and regional cooperation. In Lausanne, Minister Cheikh Niang pleaded for a sport for dialogue, rapprochement of the peoples and the influence of the Sahel and West Africa.
Less than two months away from the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) hosted by Senegal on behalf of Africa, sport diplomacy is a strategic lever for dialogue and transformation for the continent.
On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in Lausanne, Switzerland, H.E. Mr. Sheikh NIANG, Minister for African Integration, Foreign Affairs and External Senegalese, took part in a high-level round table on sports diplomacy in the Sahel and West Africa.
This meeting brought together several prominent figures: H.E. Mr. Bakary Yaou Sangaré, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Niger; Ms. Nadine Traoré Bazié, Head of Mission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso; Ms. Fatma Samoura, former Secretary General of FIFA and senior United Nations official; as well as Ms. Ornella Moderan, who ensured moderation of exchanges.
Sport as an instrument for dialogue and influence
Under the theme « Sport for diplomacy: a lever for dialogue, influence and transformation for the Sahel and West Africa »exchanges highlighted the role of sport as a tool for rapprochement among peoples, international outreach and regional cooperation.
Minister Sheikh NIANG stressed that sport diplomacy is an innovative way to strengthen African cohesion, while valuing local talent and initiatives on the world stage.
An African vision carried by Senegal
Senegal's participation in this meeting is part of a continental dynamic: that of African leadership in promoting sport as a factor for peace and development. By hosting the YOG, the country is becoming the flagship of a united Africa, open to dialogue and international cooperation.
This initiative illustrates the Senegalese government's willingness to position sport as a pillar of its diplomacy, consistent with the objectives of the APRM and the African Union for enhanced regional integration.
Cooperation and transformation in the Sahel
The discussions in Lausanne also highlighted the potential of sport diplomacy to support transformation and development dynamics in the Sahel. By promoting mutual understanding and cross-border cooperation, sport becomes a vehicle for stability and social progress in a region often facing security and economic challenges.
Through this meeting, Senegal confirms its commitment to promoting inclusive sport diplomacy, capable of mobilizing public and private actors around a common goal: to make sport an instrument of dialogue, influence and transformation for Africa.
This approach paves the way for a new era of cooperation, where sport performance is combined with diplomacy and sustainable development.
Mamadou SY
