Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, will begin an official visit to Morocco on Monday, following the detention of Senegalese supporters during incidents linked to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, officials have said.

Eighteen Senegalese fans remain in pre-trial detention in Morocco, where they face charges of hooliganism after clashes surrounding the final, which Senegal won 1–0 against hosts Morocco on January 18.

Their trial opened on Thursday at a court in Rabat but has been adjourned to January 29.

Despite the incident, the two countries maintain strong cooperative relations across key sectors including tourism, energy, infrastructure and transport, alongside deep-rooted religious and cultural ties.

Sonko’s visit comes within the framework of a joint bilateral commission meeting scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, according to a source at Senegal’s foreign ministry.

A Moroccan-Senegalese economic forum is also planned, the Moroccan news agency MAP reported.

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has expressed regret over the incidents, while Sonko has urged calm and called for tensions to be defused, as rival supporters continue to trade barbs on social media.