Senegal - History, Politics, Geography, Economy, Demographics, Administrative divisions, Culture, Miscellaneous topics

Official name Republic of Senegal, Fr République du Sénégal

Local name Sénégal (French) Timezone GMT Area 196 790 km²/75 729 sq mi population total (2002e) 9 905 000 Status Republic Date of independence 1960 Capital Dakar Languages French (official), with various ethnic languages spoken Ethnic groups Wolof (36%), Serer (19%), Fulani (13%), Toucouleur (9%), Diola (9%), Mandingo (9%), European and Lebanese (1%) Religions Sunni Muslim (91%), Roman Catholic (5%), local beliefs (3%) Physical features Located in W Africa; extensive low-lying basin of savannah and semi-desert vegetation to the N; sand dunes along coastline; dunes and mangrove forests in S, where land rises to around 500 m/1640 ft; lowland savannah and semi-desert regions of N drain into R Sénégal, which forms the N and NE boundary with Mauritania and Mali. Climate Tropical climate; rainy season (Jun–Sep); high humidity levels and high night-time temperatures, especially on the coast. Average temperature, 22–28°C; average annual rainfall 541 mm/21 in at Dakar. Currency 1 CFA Franc (XAF) = 100 centimes Economy Agriculture (employs c.75% of workforce); groundnuts, cotton, sugar, millet, sorghum, maize, livestock; minerals, iron ore, gold; oil, natural gas; fishing, timber; textiles, chemicals; shipbuilding and repairing; tourism; maritime disaster (Sep 2002) when Senegalese ferry capsized killing 1200 people. GDP (2002e) $15·64 bn, per capita $1500 Human Development Index (2002) 0·431 History Part of the Mali Empire, 14th–15th-c; French established a fort at Saint-Louis, 1658; incorporated as a territory within French West Africa, 1902; autonomous state within the French community, 1958; joined with French Sudan as independent Federation of Mali, 1959; withdrew in 1960 to become a separate independent republic; joined with The Gambia to form the Confederation of Senegambia, 1982–9; Confederation collapsed, 1989, following violent clashes between Senegalese and Mauritanians; governed by a President (elected for a 5-year term), Prime Minister, a Senate and National Assembly.

République du Sénégal Republic of Senegal
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi"  (French) "One People, One Goal, One Faith"
Anthem: Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons
Capital (largest city)	Dakar 14°40′N 17°25′W
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
- Water (%)	2.1
Population
- 2005 estimate	11,658,000 (72nd)
- Density	59/km² (137th) 153/sq mi
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

Culture

Cuisine of Senegal List of Senegalese writers List of Senegalese Music of Senegal Ousmane Sembène

Miscellaneous 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