Senegal-United States cooperation: Mayors want to move from twinning to projects

After a ten-day mission (from August 18 to 28, 2026) in Atlanta and Tuskegee, in the United States, four Senegalese municipalities formalize their partnership with cities in Alabama. Investments, training, technology transfer and Artificial Intelligence constitute the new levers of this decentralized cooperation. An American delegation is expected in Dakar in November.

Senegalese local authorities now want to play a more important role in international economic cooperation. A concrete illustration of this ambition, the recent study trip (August 18–28, 2026) to the United States led by the delegations from Dalifort-Foirail, Thiaroye Gare, Notto and Gawane resulted in a major breakthrough: the conclusion of four twinning agreements with towns in Alabama. The commune of Tivaouane also participated in discussions on the sidelines of the mission, indicates a note of which a copy has reached us. The initiative goes far beyond the protocol framework. For Senegalese elected officials, these partnerships must serve as a gateway to new investments, transfers of skills and the introduction of innovative solutions in territorial management.
The agreements bring Dalifort-Foirail to Center Point, Thiaroye Gare to Spring Dale, Notto to Tuskegee and Gawane to Union Springs. They cover several sectors: education, professional training, agriculture, environment, commerce, culture, tourism, youth and digital transformation. The objective is to make the twin cities true partners in carrying out projects with economic and social impact. Another lesson from the mission: Artificial Intelligence could quickly become a tool for modernizing local administration.

Four sealed partnerships

Mamadou Mbengue, mayor of Dalifort-Foirail and head of the Senegalese delegation, said the event brought together African-American investors. The latter, including engineers and university professors, have demonstrated their desire to invest in their continent of origin. “This meeting allowed us to forge valuable links. They now want to open up to other African countries. While they were only positioned in Ghana, they now aim to establish themselves in West Africa. This is the first time that Senegalese municipalities have joined forces with American municipalities,” rejoiced the councilor.

“The discussions allowed elected officials to better assess the potential of digital technology in the daily management of communities. Local taxation, land management, urban planning, waste treatment, public security, support for small businesses and even training of young people: the applications envisaged are numerous. For Senegalese communities, the challenge now is to move from the discovery of these technologies to their appropriation and deployment in municipal services.”

The mission report recommends the immediate establishment of a monitoring committee. Its main task will be to transform the contacts established in the United States into concrete projects, in particular through the preparation of a portfolio of “bankable” projects to submit to American investors.

“Bankable” projects to prepare

Collaboration should also be structured around five axes: institutional cooperation, investments and economic development, technology transfer, training and creation of a network of twin cities. In this perspective, the creation of a “United States-Senegal Twin Cities Alliance” is proposed to bring together the different communities involved in the process. The dynamic should continue from next November. A delegation from the World Conference of Mayors, made up of American mayors and investors, is expected in Senegal. This visit will constitute an important step in giving concrete expression to the commitments made during the American mission. For Senegalese communities, the challenge is now to convert the agreements into jobs, investments, training programs and structuring projects.

Beyond the four twinnings, this experience could open the way to broader cooperation between African and American local elected officials, with the prospect of organizing, in Senegal, an international meeting of mayors.

Oumar FÉDIOR