Senegal

Senegal A West African country with an Atlantic coast.

Physical

Senegal surrounds the Gambia and is itself bounded inland by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. Its most westerly point (and that of continental Africa) is Cape Verde, formed by a volcano. Inland there is savannah, sparser in the north than in the south; the south of the country has a marshy coast. In winter the drying harmattan wind blows from the interior.

Economy

The predominantly agricultural economy has been weakened by drought and low world prices. The principal exports are fish, ground-nuts, and phosphates. Other crops include sugarcane, millet, rice, and cotton. Mineral resources include phosphates, and unexploited reserves of iron ore, and gold. Industry includes ship-repair and oil-refining.

History

Senegal has been part of several ancient empires, including those of GHANA, MALI, and SONGHAY. The Tukulor, one of Senegal's seven main ethnic groups, converted to Islam in the 11th century, but animism remained widespread until the middle of the 19th century. Portuguese navigators explored the coast of Senegal in 1445. Founded by France in the 17th century, the colony of Senegal was disputed by Britain in the Napoleonic Wars. The interior was occupied by the French governor L. L. Faidherbe (1854–61); in 1871 the colony sent its first Deputy to the French Assembly. It became part of French West Africa in 1895, and in 1958 it was made an autonomous republic within the FRENCH COMMUNITY. It became part of the Federation of MALI (1959–60). Under the leadership of Léopold Sédar SENGHOR it became independent in 1960. It briefly federated with The GAMBIA as Senegambia (1982–89). In 1980 Abdou Diouf succeeded Léopold Senghor as President within a multiparty system. Relations between Senegal and MAURITANIA deteriorated sharply in 1989 following the killing of hundreds of Senegalese residents in Mauritania and the expulsion of thousands more. Faced with the problems arising from ethnic tension, President Diouf formed a power-sharing coalition government in 1991, which succeeded in restoring a degree of order, diplomatic relations being resumed with Mauritania in 1992. Meanwhile a separatist movement had developed within Casamance in southern Senegal. Diouf was re-elected in early 1993. Despite French and IMF aid, the Senegalese economy has been on the verge of bankruptcy since the mid-1990s. In 2000 Abdoulaye Wade became President, ending 40 years of rule by the Socialists.

Capital:	Dakar
Area:	196,722 sq km (75,955 sq miles)
Population:	9,905,000 (2002 est)
Currency:	1 CFA franc = 100 centimes
Religions:	Sunni Muslim 91.0%; Roman Catholic 5.6%; traditional beliefs 3.2%
Ethnic Groups:	Wolof 38.0%; Fulani-(Peul-)Tukulor 22.0%; Serer 19.0%; Diola 7.0%; Mande 7.0%
Languages:	French (official); Wolof; other local languages
International Organizations:	UN; OAU; Franc Zone