The Senegal-Morocco Circle of Friendship and Fraternity (CESEMAF) held a decisive General Assembly on Saturday, November 15, 2025 in Dakar, resulting in the renewal of its governance and the adoption of a triennial action plan (2026-2028). Beyond the statutory exercise, the meeting marks a new stage in revitalizing the strategic axis linking Senegal and Morocco, two countries whose relationship is distinguished by its consistency, historical depth, and African scope.
Opening the proceedings, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Senegal, Hassan Naciri, recalled the “almost millennial anchoring” of the ties between the two nations, based on an exceptional human, religious, diplomatic, and cultural foundation. He emphasized the need for CESEMAF to support the revival of bilateral institutional mechanisms: the Morocco-Senegal Joint High Commission, the Consular Commission, ministerial meetings, and the modernization of the cooperation framework between Rabat and Dakar.
Following the deliberations, former Senegalese Minister of Economy and Finance, Amadou Kane, was elected president of CESEMAF. He succeeds the founder of the Circle, the late Mokhtar Mbow (1921-2024), former Director-General of UNESCO and an emblematic figure of Moroccan-Senegalese dialogue. In his speech, Mr. Kane expressed his determination to “revitalize the action of CESEMAF” by strengthening its role as a platform for citizen diplomacy and multidimensional cooperation. The banker, who has long been at the helm of BNP Paribas’ Africa division, reminded that the Moroccan-Senegalese relationship remains one of the strongest on the continent, driven by “a shared vision, rare political trust, and a convergence of strategic interests.”
A triennial plan to structure action and strengthen partnership
The Secretary-General, Mohamed Lahlou, presented the orientations of the triennial plan 2026-2028, which aims to give the Circle a more solid structure and renewed strategic framework. The plan emphasizes strengthening the bonds of friendship and fraternity between the communities of the two countries, promoting cultural, educational, and spiritual exchanges, consolidating the institutional architecture of CESEMAF, developing solidarity and citizen cooperation initiatives, and building partnerships between public, private, academic, and cultural actors. This framework builds on nearly twenty years of CESEMAF’s action and aims to give a new impetus to its historical mission.
Honorary member of CESEMAF, Mohamed H’Midouche advocated for expanding CESEMAF’s scope of action to other African countries, notably Mauritania, to strengthen the regional dimension of the Circle. This approach is part of a broader vision of South-South cooperation, in line with the diplomatic ambitions of Senegal and Morocco. The upcoming Morocco-Senegal Joint Commission is also expected to pave the way for new shared initiatives in the fields of economy, culture, education, health, and community integration.
As a reminder, the Senegal-Morocco Circle of Friendship and Fraternity (CESEMAF) is an organization created on November 25, 2005 by Professor Amadou Mahtar Mbow, an emblematic figure of intercultural dialogue and a former member of the Royal Academy of Morocco. The association works for human, cultural, intellectual, and social rapprochement between the Senegalese and Moroccan peoples. Placed under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, CESEMAF aims to be a space for citizen cooperation, active solidarity, and promotion of values shared by the two countries: fraternity, respect, and solidarity.
The new CESEMAF Bureau
The General Assembly formalized the composition of the Executive Bureau, now structured as follows:
Presidency
– President: Amadou KANE
– President’s financial advisor: Mr. Rachid El Bouzidi
Vice-Presidencies
– Vice-President in charge of legal affairs: Me Khalid Abou Houda
– Vice-President in charge of communication and public relations: Adama WADE
– Vice-President in charge of social affairs and solidarity: Ibrahima Éloi SARR
– Deputy: Mrs. Fatemzahra SAAD
– Vice-President in charge of economic affairs: Mouhamed KANE
General Secretariat
– Secretary-General: Mohamed LAHLOU
Treasurer
– General Treasurer: Abdeljalil BENJELLOUN
– Deputy: Cheikh Oumar SY
Commissions
– Scientific Commission
– President: Professor Amadou DIOUF
– Deputy: Mouhamed LOME
– Cultural Commission
– President: Mamadou Lamine SOW
– Deputy: Mr. Abdelkader SAKALI
– Health Commission
– President: Professor Serigne Abdou BA
– Entrepreneurship Commission
– President: Kandy Khasse Kanouté
– Deputy: Mrs. Hasna Founoune Mboup
– Auditors
– Titular: Amadou NIANG
– Substitute: Oumar Massaly COULIBALY
