Paris, August 9, 2026 — The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) France had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Augustin Senghor, Mayor of Gorée and lawyer, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Juliette Senghor, and their daughter, to the Espace Barrault in Paris on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
This meeting allowed Mr. Senghor to reflect on his experience at the African Summit in Dakar, held on January 18 and 19, 2026 and, in particular, on the visit of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, co-founder of UPF, to Gorée Island.
The meeting was a continuation of the relationships established in Senegal during the Dakar Summit. Mr. Senghor had then welcomed Dr. Han to Gorée, where several ceremonies and moments of prayer were organized to commemorate the island and its tragic history linked to the slave trade.
Then, Jacques Marion, President of the UPF Europe and Middle East, presented to the guests the major milestones in the journey and commitment of the founders of UPF. He notably mentioned the initiatives developed since 2012 by the founders of UPF to foster dialogue between political and religious leaders and civil society actors in support of peace and reconciliation.
These efforts had notably resulted in the organization of several Peace Summits around the world, beginning with the African Summit in Dakar. Mr. Marion recalled the scale of this Summit, which brought together numerous political, religious, and academic leaders, as well as traditional chiefs from every African country.
Patrick Jouan, Vice-President of UPF France, then described the visit of Dr. Han to Gorée Island, whose preparation he had personally contributed to. He spoke with emotion of the welcome extended to the founder by the mayor of Gorée, Maître Augustin Senghor, as well as the ceremony held at the House of Slaves.
On this occasion, Dr. Han prayed with emotion for the victims of the slave trade and for peace and reconciliation in Africa. The ceremony concluded with a song in Senegalese performed by the Little Angels of Korea, whose freshness and talent deeply moved the participants.
Mr. Augustin Senghor then shared his account of meeting Dr. Han. As mayor of Gorée, he spoke of the island's unique history and his responsibility to preserve its memory, while contributing to making Gorée a place of dialogue, reconciliation, and peace. Reflecting on Dr. Han's visit and the various ceremonial and prayer services held on the island, he emphasized the symbolic significance of this initiative in a place that, beyond its painful history, now represents a call for human dignity and reconciliation. His testimony also expressed his respect for UPF and its co-founder, as well as the importance he places on initiatives that promote dialogue and peace in Africa.
Following this meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Senghor were awarded the title of UPF Ambassadors for Peace, in recognition of their commitment to international and intercultural dialogue. Deeply moved by this recognition, they then met with several members of the UPF before sharing a convivial lunch, which allowed them to continue their discussions and strengthen the ties established at the African Summit in Dakar.