Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security: Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan who is on an official visit to Senegal from October 24-25, attended the 8th Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Dakar, Africa.

Key Points:

• The Dakar Forum, which has been held yearly since 2014, has become a key event for decision-makers involved in Africa.
• This is the first time that India is participating in the Forum at a Ministerial level.
• India's commitment to the stability, growth, and peace of Africa was made clear by his participation at the Dakar Forum.
• It is also in line with India’s policy to intensify and deepen its engagement with Africa.
• Mr. Murleedharan also addressed the Forum on the topic of ‘Global Crises and Sovereignty in Africa’.
• He advocated the adoption of a development paradigm that is driven by, owned by, and focused on the people of Africa.
• In addition to emphasizing the need for UNSC reforms, he underlined India's peacekeeping commitments and aid during COVID-19 in the form of vaccines, climate action, and development partnerships.
• The Indian community joined Mr. Murleedharan in building a Unity Chain to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary on the eve of National Unity Week.

About Dakar Peace and Security Forum:

• The Dakar Peace and Security Forum annually brings together many African Heads of State and Government, international partners, as well as multiple actors of Peace and Security.
• It was launched during the 2013 Élysée Summit organized by France.
• The first edition of the forum was held in December 2014 in Dakar under the high patronage of Macky SALL, President of the Republic of Senegal.

India and Senegal Relations:

• With strong economic involvement and development cooperation, Senegal and India enjoy amicable and cordial relations and share the same ideals of democracy and secularism.
• Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established at the Ambassadorial level in 1962, with a resident Indian Mission in Dakar.
• The bilateral trade between India and Senegal was $ 1.65 billion in 2021-22.
• Major items of export from India include food items, textiles, automobiles and pharmaceuticals.
• Major items of import from Senegal are raw cashew and phosphoric acid .

About Senegal:

• Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country in West Africa.
• It is a unitary presidential republic and is the westernmost country in the mainland of the Old World, or Afro-Eurasia.
• It owes its name to the Senegal River, which borders it to the east and north. 
• Senegal is bordered by Mauritania in the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest.
• Senegal's economic and political capital is Dakar.
• The currency used here is West African CFA franc.
• The current President of Senegal is Macky Sall.