Senegal eyes BRICS bloc, seeks greater role in emerging global order

Senegal has formally expressed its intention to join the BRICS bloc and is currently engaged in negotiations with existing member states, the country’s Foreign Minister Yassine Fall confirmed.

"Senegal is one of the countries, which liked the creation of BRICS, and which are conducting negotiations with this group of countries to become its part," she said, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

In her remarks, Fall emphasized Senegal’s readiness to play a constructive and impactful role within the bloc, citing the West African nation’s political stability, natural resources, and commitment to industrial development.

Senegal is able to play a positive role in the association, the minister added.

"Senegal may contribute to BRICS due to its stability, resources, and the wish to develop industry," she noted, adding that the BRICS format provides "more space for exchange of views and access to commercial resources."

Since its inception in 2006, BRICS has experienced two phases of expansion. In 2011, South Africa joined the original group, which included Brazil, Russia, India, and China. On January 1, 2024, five new members officially entered BRICS, namely Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia.

Brazil took over BRICS presidency from Russia on January 1, 2025. At a BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia in October 2024, it was decided to establish a category of BRICS partner countries. The first countries to become partners were Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan. Indonesia was also initially named as a BRICS partner, but on January 6, Brazil announced that the Asian country had been given a status of full member. On January 17, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry said that Nigeria had joined BRICS as a partner.

By Vafa Guliyeva