Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye Meets Astronaut Thomas Pesquet

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye received French astronaut Thomas Pesquet during a five‑day goodwill visit to Senegal (20‑24 July 2026). Pesquet, a veteran ESA astronaut who commanded an ISS expedition in 2021, toured the Senegalese Space Agency (ASES) and spoke with young attendees at the Daniel Sorano National Theatre. The meetings emphasized the role of science, technology and innovation as pillars of Senegal’s Vision 2050 and the New Deal technologique, aiming to turn space capabilities into drivers of economic sovereignty, telecommunications, Earth observation and natural‑resource management. The presidency highlighted the visit as a symbol of excellence intended to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers and to pave the way for deeper cooperation with ESA, France’s CNES and other international partners.