Senegal
Republic of SenegalRepublique du Senegal
republicIndependence 4 April 1960 (from France)
Senegal as the 2010 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 136 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The French colonies of Senegal and the French Sudan were merged in 1959 and granted their independence as the Mali Federation in 1960. The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. The envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC) has led a low-level separatist insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s, and several peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict.
Nevertheless, Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Senegal was ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until current President Abdoulaye WADE was elected in 2000. He was reelected in February 2007 and has amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and to weaken the opposition, part of the President's increasingly autocratic governing style. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation.
Geography
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
20 fieldsLand useshare of 196,722 sq km
Climate
- tropical;
- hot, humid;
- rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds;
- dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 2.22 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)
- per capita:
- 190 cu m/yr (2002)
Environment - current issues
- wildlife populations threatened by poaching;
- deforestation;
- overgrazing;
- soil erosion;
- desertification;
- overfishing
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal
People
23 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2010 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.87 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- very high
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, malaria, Rift Valley fever, and yellow fever
- water contact disease:
- schistosomiasis
- respiratory disease:
- meningococcal meningitis
- animal contact disease:
- rabies (2009)
Government
Republic; President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000); Prime Minister Soulayemane Ndene NDIAYE (since 1 May 2009)
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Senate results, 150 seatsone dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Senegal
- conventional short form:
- Senegal
- local long form:
- Republique du Senegal
- local short form:
- Senegal
- former:
- Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation
Capital
- name:
- Dakar
- geographic coordinates:
- 14 40 N, 17 26 W
- time difference:
- UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
14 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence
4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
Legal system
- based on French civil law system;
- judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court;
- the Council of State audits the government's accounting office;
- accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Soulayemane Ndene NDIAYE (since 1 May 2009)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) under new constitution;
- election last held on 25 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012);
- prime minister appointed by the president
- election results:
- Abdoulaye WADE reelected president; percent of vote - Abdoulaye WADE 55.9%, Idrissa SECK 14.9%, Ousmane Tanor DIENG 13.6%, Moustapha NIASSE 5.9%, other 9.7%
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate, reinstituted in 2007, (100 seats; 35 members indirectly elected and 65 members appointed by the president) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; 90 members elected by direct popular vote and 60 elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- Senate - last held on 19 August 2007 (next to be held - NA);
- National Assembly - last held on 3 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012);
- note - the National Assembly in December 2005 voted to postpone legislative elections originally scheduled for 2006;
- legislative elections were first rescheduled to coincide with the 25 February 2007 presidential elections and later for 3 June 2007;
- the election was boycotted by 12 opposition parties, including the former ruling Socialist Party, which resulted in a record-low 35% voter turnout
- election results:
- Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - PDS 34, AJ/PADS 1, 65 appointed by the president;
- National Assembly results - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - SOPI Coalition 131, other 19
Judicial branch
- Constitutional Court;
- Council of State;
- Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation;
- Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders
- African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP];
- Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar [Macky Sall];
- Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE];
- And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS [Landing SAVANE];
- Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY];
- Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ [Cheikh Abdoulaye Bamba DIEYE];
- Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS];
- Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO];
- Jef-Jel [Talla SYLLA];
- National Democratic Rally or RND [Madior DIOUF];
- People's Labor Party or PTP [El Hadji DIOUF];
- Reform Party or PR [Abdourahim AGNE];
- Rewmi Party [Idrissa Seck];
- Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];
- Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG];
- SOPI Coalition [Abdoulaye WADE] (a coalition led by the PDS);
- Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- other:
- labor;
- students;
- Sufi brotherhoods, including the Mourides and Tidjanes;
- teachers
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Fatou Danielle DIAGNE
- chancery:
- 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 234-0540
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 332-6315
- consulate(s) general:
- Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Marcia S. BERNICAT
- embassy:
- Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar
- mailing address:
- B. P. 49, Dakar
- telephone:
- [221] 33-829-2100
- FAX:
- [221] 33-822-2991
Flag description
- three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;
- green represents Islam, progress, and hope;
- yellow signifies natural wealth and progress;
- red symbolizes sacrifice and determination;
- the star denotes unity and hope
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Mali and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea
National anthem
- name:
- "Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons" (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons)
- lyrics/music:
- Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER
note: adopted 1960; the lyrics were written by Leopold Sedar SENGHOR, Senegal"s first president; the anthem is sometimes played incorporating the Koras (harp-like stringed instruments) and Balafons (types of xylophones) mentioned in the title
Economy
Senegal relies heavily on donor assistance.
48 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Senegal relies heavily on donor assistance. The country's key export industries are phosphate mining, fertilizer production, and commercial fishing. The country is also working on iron ore and oil exploration projects. In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community.
Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging over 5% annually during 1995-2008. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the single digits.
The country was adversely affected by the global economic downturn in 2009 and GDP growth fell below 2%. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy.
High unemployment, however, continues to prompt illegal migrants to flee Senegal in search of better job opportunities in Europe. Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief program, Senegal benefited from eradication of two-thirds of its bilateral, multilateral, and private-sector debt.
In 2007, Senegal and the IMF agreed to a new, non-disbursing, Policy Support Initiative program which was completed in 2010. Senegal received its first disbursement from the $540 million Millennium Challenge Account compact it signed in September 2009 for infrastructure and agriculture development.
In 2010, the Senegalese people protested against frequent power cuts. The government pledged to expand capacity by 2012 and to promote renewable energy but until Senegal has more capacity, more protests are likely and economic activity will be hindered. During the year, bakers protested government price controls on bread.
Foreign investment in Senegal is constrained by Senegal's business environment, which has slipped in recent years, and by perceptions of corruption.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
41.3 (2001) · 41.3 (1995) country comparison to the world: 55
Central bank discount rate
4.25% (31 December 2009) · 4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 95
Stock of narrow money
$2.8 billion (31 December 2010 est) · $2.903 billion (31 December 2009 est) country comparison to the world: 112
Stock of broad money
$4.603 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $4.745 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Stock of domestic credit
$3.516 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $3.412 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Agriculture - products
- peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables;
- cattle, poultry, pigs;
- fish
Industries
- agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining;
- iron ore, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair
Current account balance
-$1.046 billion (2010 est.) · -$1.356 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $2.123 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Debt - external
$3.885 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $3.462 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 507.71 (2010), 470.9 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- good system with microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system
- domestic:
- above-average urban system with a fiber-optic network;
- nearly two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar where a call-center industry is emerging;
- expansion of fixed-line services in rural areas needed;
- mobile-cellular service is expanding rapidly
- international:
- country code - 221;
- the SAT-3/WASC fiber optic cable provides connectivity to Europe and Asia while Atlantis-2 provides connectivity to South America;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Broadcast media
- state-run Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) operates 2 TV stations;
- a few private TV subscription channels rebroadcast foreign channels without providing any local news or programs;
- RTS operates a national radio network and a number of regional FM stations;
- a large number of community and private-broadcast radio stations are available;
- transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Dakar (2007)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2009)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Senegalese Armed Forces: Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2009)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 3,211,279
- females age 16-49:
- 3,250,128 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
- The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem separatist violence, cross border raids, and arms smuggling into their countries from Senegal's Casamance region, and in 2006, respectively accepted 6,000 and 10,000 Casamance residents fleeing the conflict;
- 2,500 Guinea-Bissau residents fled into Senegal in 2006 to escape armed confrontations along the border
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- 19,630 (Mauritania)
- IDPs:
- 22,400 (approximately 65% of the IDP population returned in 2005, but new displacement is occurring due to clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2007)
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Senegal.” The World Factbook 2010. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/senegal/2010.