Australia–Senegal relations

Bilateral relations exist between Australia and Senegal.

Australia–Senegal relations
Map indicating locations of Australia and Senegal

Australia

Senegal
Monthly value of Australian merchandise exports to Senegal (A$ millions) since 1988[1]

Diplomacy

Until 2004 Australia's High Commissioner to Nigeria was accredited to Senegal (along with Ghana and the Gambia).[2] Bob Whitty held this position from January 2001, followed by Iain Cameron Dickie from February 2004.[2] In 2004 an Australian High Commission was opened in Ghana,[3] and the High Commissioner was accredited to Senegal (along with Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone and Togo).[4] Jonathan Richardson was the first High Commissioner in this role,[3] then William Williams held the position until February 2012, when he was replaced by Joanna Adamson.[4]

Senegal is currently accredited to Australia through its embassy in Tokyo, Japan.[5]

It was announced in May 2012 that Australia would establish an embassy in Dakar, Senegal,[6] which would be the first Australian embassy in a French-speaking African nation.[7] This promise helped to deliver African votes for Australia to obtain a seat on the United Nations Security Council in October 2012.[8] In May 2013, the promise was indefinitely delayed due to budget cuts at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the Gillard Government.[8]

Trade

Senegal's 2003 mining code is based on those of Australia and Canada.[9] Senegal's Director of Mines and Geology actively promotes Australian mining investment.[10] Several mining companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange including BHP,[11] Mineral Deposits Limited,[12] Bassari Resources,[10] Erin Resources,[9] and First Australian Resources (partnered with Petrosen, Senegal's national oil company),[13][14] have projects in Senegal, primarily mining gold, mineral sands,[15] and oil and gas.[13]

See also

References

  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2013, ‘Senegal – Merchandise Exports, Country and Country Groups, FOB Value’, table 14a, International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia, cat. no. 5368.0, ABS, Canberra, December, column 191.
  2. "Australia names new envoy to Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia", BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, BBC Worldwide Limited, 12 February 2004
  3. Downer, Alexander (30 June 2004). "New Australian High Commission in Ghana". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  4. "New Aussie ambassadors for Ghana, Croatia", AAP Bulletin Wire, Australian Associated Press Pty Limited, 28 September 2012
  5. "Vice-Regal". The Canberra Times. 16 August 1989. p. 8. Retrieved 20 February 2014 via National Library of Australia.
  6. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (9 May 2012). "Opening of new Embassy in Senegal, media release, 9 May 2012, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs". Foreignminister.gov.au. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  7. "Senegal embassy will be hub for Australia". The Australian. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  8. Flitton, Daniel (13 May 2013). "Senegal embassy promise goes sour". The Age.
  9. "Erin Resources: Bouroubourou projects, Senegal", AAP Finance News Wire, Australian Associated Press, 30 October 2013
  10. Andrews, Mark (October 2011). "Senegal opens door to Australian investors". Australia's Paydirt. 1 (188): 86.
  11. "Barrick among recipients of gold permits in Senegal", National Post, Canada: Infomart, a division of Postmedia Network Inc., 26 March 1999
  12. "Senegal: President Wade Inaugurates Gold Mine in South East", AFP (World Service), Agence France-Presse, 4 June 2009
  13. Chambers, Matt (2 August 2013). "ConocoPhillips signs on to FAR Senegal offshore drill". The Australian. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  14. "Shell says not to move on FAR's Senegal oil project", AAP Finance News Wire, Australian Associated Press, 24 August 2009
  15. "Australia to establish embassy in Senegal; Foreign Minister Bob Carr says Australia is establishing its first embassy in French-speaking West Africa.", ABC Premium News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 9 May 2012
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