Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko called for the integration of West African countries, the local news portal Teranga News reports.
Sonko emphasized the need for states to combine their efforts in the face of contemporary challenges. He noted that in a rapidly changing world, individual countries' actions no longer yield sufficient results.
"A country can develop, even a small one, but it cannot be powerful alone. ... In the modern world, only major powers have influence," he stressed.
The prime minister pointed to the importance of strengthening cooperation among countries in the region, including in the areas of economy, geopolitics, and security. According to him, the region needs to reach a new level of integration by strengthening solidarity and coordinating government policies.
Sonko highlighted the importance of utilizing local resources and developing common strategies capable of ensuring long-term sovereignty.
The statement was made on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr (Uraza Bayram) during the prime minister's visit to the city of Ziguinchor.
In February, Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Niang and his Ivorian counterpart Nialé Kaba agreed on the development of an annual strategic cooperation program.
