During the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, French President Emmanuel Macron was filmed gently tapping the right shoulder of his Senegalese counterpart, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This subtle but visible gesture quickly sparked various interpretations.

In diplomatic and non-verbal communication language, such a gesture can have several meanings. It can express closeness and cordiality, conveying sympathy, human warmth, or complicity between leaders. It can also be a sign of comfort or encouragement, meaning “I am with you” or “we are on good terms”. Finally, some analysts believe that unilateral physical contact, even light, can reflect a posture of superiority or control.

Some observers interpret this gesture as a sign of strengthening ties between France and Senegal. However, other voices, such as that of columnist Arona Niang, have analyzed it as a lack of respect, highlighting the potentially dominating or unilateral aspect of the initiative.

This episode illustrates how carefully physical interactions between leaders are observed and can fuel the debate on the nature of bilateral relations, beyond official speeches.