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So far, Senegal has managed to avoid the kind of deadly attacks witnessed by al-Qaeda and Islamic State group-linked militants operating in the region, or witnessed any major humanitarian crises in recent years which could see this agreement activated. But living in a dangerous neighbourhood, the risk is always there.

Al-Qaeda franchises have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds in nearby Burkina Faso, Mali and the Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, the Islamic State group-linked Boko Haram militia force has waged a devastating campaign against civilians in Nigeria and Cameroon.

"Terrorism is virtually present in all countries of the world and we should be worried that it could strike us," Senegal's President Macky Sall told °®Âþµº's Deputy Editor-in-Chief Basheer al-Baker in an exclusive interview.

"Although we should not obsess about it - and it has not hit us yet - we must be aware that we are not immune [from this threat]," the Senegalese leader said.

Senegal has increased its security efforts over the last few months to counter the threat of terrorism, but experts warn that it could become a target of extremists soon.

Although militancy does not plague Senegal like other neighbouring countries, security concerns forced Senegalese authorities to cancel Tuesday's opening of the annual Saint-Louis Jazz festival.

"Senegal is working on its national security and the safety of its citizens should any threats occur. We want to be ready to face it in an effective way," Sall said.

"For the time being, there is no real terrorism threat on Senegal," the president added.

Saudi mission

Despite this innner peace, Senegal is moving closer to Saudi Arabia's military axis, and getting involved in Riyadh's far-off wars.

In May 2015, Dakar said it would send crack troops - known locally as the "jambars" - to join the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

Sengal became the only non-Arabic speaking country to join the Saudi-led efforts to support the Yemeni government and battle Houthi and rebel forces in the country. 

Local critics have rejected the president's claim that the troops were being sent "to defend Islam's Holy Places" and said that Saudi promises of investment were the real incentive.

Sall insists that the Senegalese military mission's primary purpose is to show solidarity for a fellow Muslim state, even though Riyadh is engaged in a war in Yemen with other Muslims.

"Saudi Arabia - well, as a state - is also a symbol of Islam. Senegal's ties are strong with the kingdom because we are Muslims and that is why we have joined the Saudi-led coalition against terrorism and immediately agreed to send 2,100 soldiers," Sall told °®Âþµº. 

The president also says that the force is fulfilling a defensive, spiritual role although this could change.

"We will continue working with the coalition to protect Islam's holy sites. We have sent officers to join the coalition but no ground forces yet, although we are ready to do so at any given moment due to the commitment we have to our relationship with Saudi Arabia."

Senegalese critics of the president suggest that the real cause behind Senegal's participation was promises from Saudi Arabia to invest heavily in a government development programme known as Programme Senegal Emergent 2035

This would inevitably mean sacrifices of men, if Senegal becomes embroiled in Yemen's civil war.

Economic rewards?

Senegalese critics have pointed to Saudi Arabia's pledges to invest heavily in a government development programme known as Programme Senegal Emergent 2035 as Dakar's possible motive to involving itself in a distant war.

"I believe that diplomatic relations today are not meaningful unless accompanied by economic partnership through investment and trade, especially since we do not rely much on aid," Sall protested.

Macky Sall, right, works with the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon over the defence of Palestinian rights [AFP]

"Just like we enjoy a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia, we also maintain a good relationship with the remaining Arab Gulf states."

"With Qatar, we have now developed economic and trade relations based on private investments and I hope this new relationship continues to develop as we seek to bring Arab capital and investment into Africa," Sall added.

Despite this diplomatic shift towards Muslim - and particularly Arab - partnerships, Senegal has also enjoyed warm relations with Israel since the 1990s. The president said that Senegal is using this relationship to put pressure on Israel to agree to the formation of a Palestinian state, although recent actions by Tel Aviv would suggest this has not been successful.

"It is a very complicated relationship, which is very old," Sall told °®Âþµº.

"We are using our position to push for a two-state solution [with] negotiations. Israel has its own state and that should be the case with the Palestinians, through an internationally-recognised state with its own borders."

He said that Senegal's efforts for this have been ongoing since 1948, and Dakar works with the UN committee for the defence of the rights of Palestinians.

"We must continue to push towards a two-state solution so that people can live in harmony and peace," Sall concluded.

With the signing of the new US-Senegal military deal this week - and its closer ties with Gulf states - Senegal is looking to become a West African diplomatic powerhouse, and use its military brawn to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia, which could bring a whole manner of economic rewards.

Read Arabic? Catch up with Basheer al-Baker's full interview with President Macky Sall on our sister site, al-Araby al-Jadeed.