Relationship dossier
Senegal
Western Sahara
Relationship assessment
Senegal supports Morocco’s position on Western Sahara; direct SADR–Senegal relations are less clear.
Senegal toward Western Sahara
-40Senegal has supported Morocco’s position on Western Sahara and opened a consulate in Dakhla, a territory claimed by the SADR. These actions align Senegal with Morocco’s claim rather than the SADR’s claim to independence.
Western Sahara toward Senegal
Not assessedOverall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Senegal has supported Morocco’s position on Western Sahara and opened a consulate in Dakhla, in territory claimed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). This is a concrete expression of Senegalese policy adverse to the SADR’s claim. Information about direct SADR government conduct toward Senegal is insufficient to assess the relationship fully.
Areas of tension
- The competing Moroccan and SADR claims to sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Key developments
Senegal opened a consulate in Dakhla, in territory claimed by the SADR.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and continuity of Senegalese support for Morocco’s position are unclear.
- Details of direct SADR government engagement with Senegal are limited.