Senegal - History, Politics, Geography, Economy, Demographics, Administrative divisions, Culture, Miscellaneous topics
Official name Republic of Senegal, Fr République du Sénégal
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République du Sénégal Republic of Senegal |
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Motto: "Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi" (French) "One People, One Goal, One Faith" |
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| Anthem: Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons | |||||
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Capital (largest city) |
Dakar 14°40′N 17°25′W |
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| Official language | French | ||||
| Government | Republic | ||||
| - President | Abdoulaye Wade | ||||
| - Prime Minister | Macky Sall | ||||
| Independence | |||||
| - from France | June 20, 1960 | ||||
| Area | |||||
| - Total |
196,722 km² (87th) 75,955 sq mi |
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| - Water (%) | 2.1 | ||||
| Population | |||||
| - 2005 estimate | 11,658,000 (72nd) | ||||
| - Density |
59/km² (137th) 153/sq mi |
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| GDP (PPP) | 2005 estimate | ||||
| - Total | $20.504 billion (109th) | ||||
| - Per capita | $1,759 (149th) | ||||
| HDI (2003) | 0.458 (low) (157th) | ||||
| Currency | CFA franc (XOF) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC (UTC) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .sn | ||||
| Calling code | +221 | ||||
Senegal (French: le Sénégal), officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the Sénégal River in western Africa.
History
Archaeological findings throughout the area indicate that Senegal was inhabited in prehistoric times. Islam, the dominant religion in Senegal, first came to the region in the 11th century.
In January 1959, Senegal and the French Sudan merged to form the Mali Federation, which became fully independent on June 20, 1960, as a result of the independence and the transfer of power agreement signed with France on April 4, 1960. Léopold Senghor was elected Senegal's first president in September 1960. Although this was put down without bloodshed, Dia was arrested and imprisoned, and Senegal adopted a new constitution that consolidated the president's power.
Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia on February 1, 1982. He encouraged broader political participation, reduced government involvement in the economy, and widened Senegal's diplomatic engagements, particularly with other developing nations.
Politics
Senegal is a republic with a powerful presidency;
Senegal also has 65 political parties which contribute to development of the country through working towards a successful transition to democracy in the country and even among other developing countries on the African continent.
Senegal has a reputation for transparency in government operations.
Geography
Senegal is located on the west of the African continent. The northern border is formed by the Senegal River, other rivers include the Gambia and Casamance Rivers.
Economy
In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. This reform began with a 50 percent devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the former French franc and now to the euro. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform programme, with real growth in GDP averaging 5 % annually during 1995-2001.
As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff.
Demographics
Senegal has a population of some 11 million, about 70 percent of whom live in rural areas.
Ethnicity
Senegal has a wide variety of ethnic groups and, as in most West African countries, several languages are widely spoken. The Wolof are the largest single ethnic group in Senegal at 43%; From the time of earliest contact between Europeans and Africans along the coast of Senegal, particularly after the establishment of coastal trading posts during the fifteenth century, communities of mixed African and European (mostly French and Portuguese) origin have thrived. The Halpulaar, a widespread ethnic group found along the Sahel from Chad to Senegal, representing 20 percent of the Senegalese population, were the first to be converted to Islam. Many of the Toucouleurs, or sedentary Halpulaar of the Senegal River Valley in the north, converted to Islam around a millennium ago and later contributed to Islam's propagation throughout Senegal. Most communities south of the Senegal River Valley, however, were not thoroughly Islamized until the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Christianity
Small Roman Catholic communities are mainly found in coastal Serer, Jola, Mankanya and Balant populations, and in Oriental Senegal among the Bassari and Coniagui. Although Islam is Senegal's majority religion, Senegal's first president, Léopold Sédar Senghor, was a Catholic Serer.
Other religions
Other religions in Senegal are mostly Animism, followed by Judaism and Buddhism.
Administrative divisions
Senegal is divided into eleven regions (régions) and subdivided into thirty-four departments (départements), ninety-four arrondissementss and multiple communes. The regions are:
| Dakar Diourbel Fatick Kaolack | Kolda Louga Matam Saint-Louis | Tambacounda Thiès Ziguinchor |
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Culture
Cuisine of Senegal List of Senegalese writers List of Senegalese Music of Senegal Ousmane SembèneMiscellaneous topics
| Communications in Senegal Confédération Sénégalaise du Scoutisme Education in Senegal Foreign relations of Senegal Indigenous cultures et al Agriculture in Senegal | List of Senegal-related topics Military of Senegal Senegal national football team Transport in Senegal University of Dakar |
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