An Academic Journey Combining Rigour and a Pan-African Vision
Yassine Fall holds a PhD in Development Economics, obtained in the United States after beginning her academic career in Senegal. She furthered her education at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she specialised in public policy, global governance, and leadership. These experiences have given her both a grounding in African realities and a keen grasp of global dynamics. Her analytical approach, forged through years of empirical research, enables her to blend academic rigour with political engagement.
“Our continent needs leaders who can read the world without losing sight of their roots. Economics is a tool for collective sovereignty.”
— Yassine Fall, Doha Forum 2024
An International Career Dedicated to Equitable Development
Before joining the Senegalese government, Yassine Fall led a distinguished career in international institutions and development cooperation. She held key positions at UN Women, where she oversaw programmes across West and Central Africa focused on women’s empowerment and reducing economic inequality.
She also worked with leading institutions such as the UNDP, the African Development Bank, and several international philanthropic foundations, focusing her work on:
- Fiscal and economic justice in Africa
- Equitable access to resources
- The inclusion of women and youth in governance
Her ability to combine technical expertise, strategic advocacy, and field-level coordination has earned her broad respect within global development circles.
A Diplomacy of Renewal in Service of African Integration
Since April 2024, Yassine Fall has served as Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs in the government led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Her appointment reflects a generational shift and a desire to rebuild Senegalese diplomacy around values of transparency, pan-Africanism, and equity.
Her strategic vision is structured around three key pillars:
1. Making African Integration an Economic and Civic Reality
Yassine Fall is a vocal advocate for the acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which she sees as a vital tool for sovereignty:
“Africa cannot be sovereign without a strong, inclusive, and integrated continental economy. The AfCFTA must be more than just a paper agreement; it must be a living mechanism for SMEs, women, and youth.”
— Yassine Fall
She also promotes the harmonisation of intra-African visa policies, regional energy pooling, and regulatory convergence among ECOWAS member states.
2. Reframing International Relations Around Global Justice
Speaking at the 2024 Doha Forum, she called for a reform of global governance:
“The world can no longer be ruled by the few while the consequences of decisions are felt everywhere. Africa must take part in defining the rules.”
— Yassine Fall, Doha Forum 2024
She advocates for:
- Permanent African representation on the UN Security Council
- Reform of the Bretton Woods institutions
- Climate justice for countries in the Global South
Under her leadership, Senegal has strengthened partnerships with Morocco, Rwanda, South Africa, Algeria, Brazil, and Turkey.
3. Protecting Senegalese Citizens Abroad and Promoting Inclusive Economic Diplomacy
She has initiated a comprehensive overhaul of consular services, including legal assistance for the diaspora, support for productive investment, and mobility programmes for students.
In economic diplomacy, she promotes a strategy aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), placing ethical partnership at the heart of Senegal’s foreign engagements:
“We no longer want extractive partnerships. Africa is not a land to be conquered; it is a rising power in the making.”
— Yassine Fall
Key Achievements and Distinctions
- Doha Forum 2024: Delivered a widely noted speech on “new alliances of the Global South.”
- Rotating Presidency of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers: Advocated firmness against coups while encouraging regional dialogue.
- Strengthening South–South Cooperation: Signed innovative agreements with Cape Verde, Kenya, and Tunisia on digital exchanges, food security, and academic mobility.
- Active member of The Elders Women Network, a pan-African initiative of women ministers for peace.
A Feminist, Ethical, and Pan-African Voice
Yassine Fall is also a key figure in African feminist diplomacy. She works to increase the representation of women in senior diplomatic posts and regional decision-making bodies. She advocates for a continental framework to protect migrant and refugee women, and for a gender-sensitive foreign policy.
To be a woman in diplomacy is to carry a vision of the world that refuses unjust hierarchies — between peoples, genders, and nations.
— Yassine Fall
A Diplomacy of Purpose and Action
Through her career and vision, Yassine Fall represents a new wave of African diplomacy rooted in historical struggles for emancipation and attuned to today’s challenges: collective security, economic justice, and regional integration. Her ability to combine strategic thinking with ethical leadership makes her one of the most influential African voices in international forums today.
