ATHENS – Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias will be in Senegal and Cape Verde on February 23-24, in the context of Greece’s activity in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This is the first visit by a Greek foreign minister to the specific countries of West Africa. During his stay, Dendias will hold a series of bilateral meetings with senior officials, according to a foreign ministry announcement.

The foreign minister will be received and given an audience on Wednesday by Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, and will have a meeting with his counterpart, Aissat Sall. During the visit, the signing of a Memorandum of Political Consultation between the Greek and Senegalese foreign ministries has been planned.

During his stay in Senegal, Dendias will attend the opening ceremony of the Greek Embassy in Dakar.

He will also visit the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, which collaborates with the corresponding Greek institute, and is expected to play a central role in the production of vaccines.

In addition, he will participate in a teleconference with Greek officers of the European Mission EUTM Mali. Finally, he is expected to make a donation to support children and young people with special needs through sports, via the organisation “Special Olympics Senegal”.

On Thursday, the foreign minister will visit Cape Verde, where he is expected to be received by the country’s president, José Maria Neves, and prime minister, José Ulisses Correia e Silva.

He will also meet with his Cape Verdean counterpart, Rui Figueiredo Soares, as well as with the President of the National Assembly, Austelino Tavares Correia. During the visit, the signing of a Memorandum of Political Consultation between the Greek and Cape Verdean foreign ministries has been planned.

Finally, Dendias is expected to make a donation to a UNICEF program related to the strengthening of the “Nos Kaza” Centers (Day Centers), which aim to assist the social and educational integration of vulnerable groups.