President Jakaya Kikwete

President Jakaya Kikwete has sent Senegalese President Macky Sall a congratulatory message following his election as new President of the West African nation and for his subsequent installation on April 2, this year.

In a statement availed to The Guardian yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation President Kikwete said, “I have received with great pleasure the news of your swearing in as new President of the Republic of Senegal, following your landslide victory during the second run-off Presidential election that was held on March 25, 2012”.

He added, “On behalf of the government and people of Tanzania, I would like therefore to extend to Your Excellency our profound and heartfelt congratulations for being sworn into office to assume the Presidency of your great country”.

President Kikwete said Sall’s victory was a clear testimony of the confidence reposed in him and his party by the people of the Republic of Senegal, adding: “Also, it is a clear testimony of the maturity of democracy by the people of the Republic of Senegal and thus making Senegal to be hailed as one of Africa’s model democracies”.

He added, “As you embark on your new responsibilities of that high office, I look forward to working closely with you and the government of the Republic of Senegal to further promote the bilateral relations that so-happily exist between our two countries for the mutual benefit of our people”.

Kikwete assured the Senegalese leader of working with him closely in the framework of the African Union and the United Nations in their common endeavours towards achieving economic and social prosperity, not only for the people of the two countries, but also for the people of the continent as a whole.