Senegal

Etymology

History

Prehistory

During prehistory, the presence of a rather old settlement is considered very former to the Christian era. The double-side ones out of almond of the lower Paléolithique were discovered in the peninsula of Cape Verde, as well as other more elaborate objects out of stone (hatchets, scrapers) in the area of Rufisque and at the edge of the rivers of Eastern Senegal.

Neolithic era

With the Neolithic era, the tools diversify and ceramics made its appearance. The excavations carried out in the coastal regions put at the day of the remainders of kitchen which testify to an important population to fishermen and tradesmen (backwater of Khant in the delta, mouth of the Saloum).

The metallurgy develops at the time Protohistorique (first millenium before J. - C.), where one finds tombs in form of Tumulus. In the center of the country, overflowing on current the Gambia, one finds a whole of circles of Mégalithes on a sector of 100 km out of 250 km. One finds this type of alignment in north is Central African Republic.

First kingdoms

The settlements were gradually consolidated to lead to the creation of the first kingdoms which are formed at the 7th century, in particular the Djolof with remote relationships with the Empire of Ghana, on the territory of current the Mali.

The Islam is introduced for the first time at the 11th century. Among the various kingdoms, most powerful at the 14th century was the empire of Djolof which gathered the Cayor, the Baol inter alia kingdoms.

Colonization

Colonial conquest

The colonial conquest begins as of the discovery of these grounds in 1442 with the Venetian navigator Cada-Mosto on behalf of Portugal. The Portuguese then launch out quickly in the Traite Blacks, but will have to face the competition of the British, French and Dutch slave traders soon. The Dutchmen base a counter on l´île of Gorée, the France establishes in 1659 that of Saint-Louis which will become the first capital of Senegal. In 1677 the French occupy in their turn the island of Gorée.

The colonial order

The colonial order is essential with Faidherbe, governor of Senegal of 1854 with 1861 and of 1863 with 1865 which provides the foundations of future the French Western Africa (AOF). Respectful from the indigenous habits, it very extends the French influence beyond Senegal, works to develop the local economy and created the wearing of Dakar.

After Saint-Louis, Dakar becomes, in 1902, the capital of the French Western Africa, one of the colony S Frenchwomen.

In January 1959, the French Sudan (current Mali) and Senegal amalgamate to form the Fédération of Mali, which becomes completely independent on June 20th, 1960. This independence is the consequence of the transfers of capacities agreed upon in the agreement signed in France on April 4th, 1960. Political difficulties cause the dismemberment of the federation on August 20th, 1960.

Independent Senegal

August 20th, 1960, Senegal withdraws federation of Mali and proclaims its independence.

Sénégambie

Conflict in Casamance

Relations with Mauritania

See also: Conflict sénégalo-Mauritanian

In 1989, Mauritania and Senegal rejected violently and respectively the communities of the adjoining countries whereas the majority had been born for a long time in their new country of adoption and had been well established in social and economic fabric. According to the HCR, refugees are always established along the Senegal river. In 2007, the president of Mauritania stated at the time of his countryside, being in favor of the return of his compatriots living to Senegal and Mali against their liking.

Policy

See also: Political of Senegal, Senegalese Right

It is one of the most democratic countries and most stable of Africa and, vis-a-vis a continent familiar of the coups d'etat, the “Senegalese model” was often proposed in the past, even if Amnesty International still denounces some arrests with political character.

The law on decentralization, application in January 1997, grants significant capacities to the regional assemblies.

Executive power

See also: List of the presidents of Senegal, Prime Ministers of Senegal

The President of the Republic is the Head of the State, elected official to the Vote for all direct for one five years renewable duration once. He appoints the Prime Minister who chooses in his turn the ministers of his cabinet and proposes their nomination with the President of the Republic.

The first President was Léopold Sédar Senghor, charismatic leader and poet of reputation. In 1981 its Prime Minister Abdou Diouf takes its succession, but in 2000 the Senegalese Democratic party carries it with Abdoulaye Wade, re-elected in 2007. The current chief of the government is Sheik Hadjibou Soumaré.

Legislative power

A long time monocaméral, the Parlement of Senegal is again equipped with two rooms, since the Sénat, removed in 2001 following a constitutional referendum, was restored in May 2007.

Instituted on August 20th, 1960, the National Assembly accommodates 150 deputies, elected officials by the universal direct suffrage for one five years duration. The poll is majority with a turn on the level of the departments to the amount of 90 deputies and proportional on a national list to the amount of 60 deputies. The Parliament is today chaired by Macky Sall, old Prime Minister.

The legislative elections sénégalaises of 2007 showed a very broad victory of the presidential coalition, but nearly the two-thirds of the voters had not gone to the ballot boxes, in particular because of a watchword of Boycott on behalf of the opposition parties.

The senators will be 100. 35 were already elected by the indirect suffrage in the departments, the 65 others will be appointed by the Head of the State. Pape Diop, the mayor of Dakar is the President.

Judicial power

In 1992 the Supreme court of Senegal was removed and replaced by three specialized bodies, the Court of appeal, the Council of State and the Constitutional council, rather similar to their French counterparts. Their magistrates are named by the President. They are more the legal high authorities of the country. Senegal abolished the Capital punishment on December 10th, 2004.

Geography and climate

Senegal has an important maritime frontage in the west with the Atlantic Ocean. The Senegal river constitutes a border in north with the Mauritania and in the east with the Mali. To south-east, the border with the Guinea is crossed by the buttresses of the mountain of the Fouta-Djalon and with south-west with the Guinea-Bissau by a tropical forest. The Gambia form an enclave and separates the area from the Casamance with the remainder of the country.

The Senegalese territory lies between 12°8 and 16°41 northern latitude and 11°21 and 17°32 of Western longitude. Its western point (the Peninsula of Cape Verde, and particularly the site of the Club Med of Dakar) constitutes the most Western part of all continental Africa.

The country extends on 196.192 km ². If one compares it with his neighbors, the Mali and the Mauritania, Senegal is a country of small size.

Climate

The climate is of the type sahélien with:

one rain season from June to October with a peak in August, September and variable according to the latitude (less precipitations in north compared to the south). It is the period of monsoons;
one season dries from November to June with continental trade winds.

The temperatures follow the seasons:

in summer, period of rain, the temperatures are with their maximum;
but is at least in January.

On the littoral, the sea brings freshness, the temperatures are about 16°C with 30°C but the center and is of Senegal can have temperatures going until 41°C.

During the winter in Europe, Senegal becomes an appreciated destination making it possible to develop a tourist activity.

Administrative divisions

Reserves and national parks

See also: List of the national parks and reserves of Senegal

Parks and natural reserves account for 8% of the national territory. They play an important role in the safeguarding of the environment and contribute significantly to tourist rise.

In these protected areas one on the whole counts 169 species of mammals and 540 species of birds.

Senegal counts six national parks: the National park of Niokolo-Koba in the east of the country; the National park of the birds of Djoudj; the National park of the Language of Cruelty in the area of Saint-Louis; the National park of the islands of the Madeleine off Dakar; the National park of the delta of Saloum in the south, as well as the National park of Low-Casamance the, closed since a few years because of the disorders in the area.

The country also counts about thirty natural reserves moreover small size, such as the forest and zoological Parc of Hann in Dakar, the Réserve of Guembeul, the Réserve of Bandia, the Natural reserve of Popenguine or the marine Aire protected from Bamboung.

Demography

General indicators

The majority of the demographic studies carried out in Senegal are based on the three censuses carried out in 1976, 1988 and especially 2002. In 2004, the Management of the Forecast and Statistics published moreover “Projections of populations of Senegal resulting from the census of 2002” anticipating the probable evolution of the population of the country until in 2015.

According to these sources, the population of Senegal - which counted approximately 1 million inhabitants in 1900 and 2,8 million at the time of independence in 1960 - would rise today with 11.343.328 people (estimate to the 31/12/2007) and could reach 13.709.845 at the end of 2015.

This population thus grows very quickly, with a Fertility rate higher than 4 children per woman.

For a long time the population was rather concentrated on the Atlantic facade, but the rural migration increased the inequality of this distribution. From now on a Senegalese on four lives in the Presqu'île of Cape Verde and the capital is at the edge of asphyxiation.

In addition to that of Dakar, the most urbanized areas are Ziguinchor, Thiès and Saint-Louis. The least urbanized are those of Kolda, Matam and Fatick. It is in the area of Tambacounda that one finds more the weak density (11 inhabitants with the km ²).

Exile

If Senegal accommodates moreover migrants, seasonal workers or not, countries bordering or distance, a strong community sénégalaise saw outside. This Diaspora represents an essential resource for the country, at the same time economic and identity. NTIC support the maintenance of the family ties and the traditional networks.

They are mainly young men who settle in Europe, mainly in France, or North America, in particular with the Quebec with a project of return towards the country at the end of a few years. The increase in Clandestine immigration under the worst conditions in particular towards the Canary islands is a major concern for Senegal and the host countries.

Most desperate want to be unaware of the risks, sensitive to the success of some, and in particular of personalities of the diaspora - born in Senegal or Senegalese parents - particularly in the artistic mediums or sportsmen.

Ethnicities

Economy and development

See also: Economy of Senegal, List of companies sénégalaises, Tourism in Senegal

At the origin, the colonies were only to produce raw material and a free labor. It was interdict to develop an industrial activity. “Not even a nail” according to Colbert. - Senegal has the third economy of the West African under-area after the Nigeria and the Ivory Coast. Taking into account its geographical location and of its political stability, Senegal belongs to the African countries most industrialized with the presence of multinationals which are mainly of origin French and to a lesser extent American.

Economic partnerships

Its economy is mainly turned towards Europe and the India. Its principal economic partners are the France, the India, the Italy. However, for several years, the China has been a partner more and more growing as testifies the China-Africa tops to them.

Senegal is member of the economic Union and monetarist West African

Commercial products

Compared with the other countries of the African continent, Senegal is very low in natural resources, its principal receipts coming from fishing and tourism:

fishing constitutes the independent source of currencies in Senegal. Since the reduction of the tax of customs, that doped export with the detriment of the ecosystem of sea-beds;
tourism is developed primarily on the littoral with great international hotel complexes and local hotels of great quality.

Economic difficulties

The weight of the foreign debt of this heavily in debt poor country (PPTE) and the agricultural sector which employs about 70% of the population sénégalaise leave little margin for an economic takeoff. Moreover, agriculture sénégalaise is very sensitive to the climatic risks and the invasions acridiennes.
In 1994, the currency is devaluated and a policy of liberalization is actively followed. Senegal tries to return under the requirements by the Fonds international currency (the IMF) in order to profit from a lightening of the debt for the development of the country. Since 2006, Senegal is in the list of the eligible countries.

Transport

Infrastructures

The International airport of Dakar-Léopold Sédar Senghor is the principal air entrance point towards Senegal. May 25th, 1971, the supersonic aircraft Concorde makes a first flight of Paris-Dakar demonstration in 2:52 mn (of which 2:07 in supersonic flight) and on January 21st, 1976 opens for the first time its commercial line Paris-Dakar Rio. President Senghor attends his arrival with the airport of Dakar as well as the first supersonic passengers of the history of aviation. April 1st, 1982, it is the end of the Paris-Rio connection.

Since February 23rd, 2001, the airline company Air International Senegal, subsidiary of the group Royal Air Maroc, proposes destinations towards Europe and Africa. She was crowned better African airline company in 2003. She is member of IATA since May 28th, 2002.

The highway network is good in the west, but is degraded while going more and more deeply in the country. The grid system is well developed in the big cities with the taxis, the buses or the “bus rapids” more or less in good state (in the secondary suburbs and cities, they are collective taxi drivers clandos or carts). Inside the country, they are large bus white Ndiaga Ndiaye and taxi-bush.

The Gare of Dakar is oldest of Senegal. It offers nothing any more but only one destination for the travellers, Bamako in Mali - the connection with Saint-Louis from now on being reserved for goods transport.

The maritime transport is made up either of launches to join the island of Gorée starting from Dakar, or of boats for cruisings on the Senegal river, or of large boats of goods transport which profit from the one of the 3 deep water ports of Africa and a terminal for the containers.

Limits

The networks are denser in the West of the country along the littoral but the movement of the goods and the people is particularly difficult towards Dakar and the peninsula of Cape Verde. The infrastructures are rarer in Eastern Senegal and the opening-up of these areas also constitutes a challenge because the means of transport remain often traditional inside the country.

Large efforts are carried out on the level of the equipment. Thus of many projects are in hand:

construction of a turnpike between Dakar and Diamniadio;
new International airport Blaise Diagne;
installation of Saint-Louis to make a coasting port of it;
installation of the port of Ziguinchor to receive containers.

Culture

Linguistic diversity

Literature

Structure

Colonization left its marks on the architecture of the country, as in Gorée or Saint-Louis, and these sites are reproduced today on the Liste of the world heritage of UNESCO.

Sober and functional, but more transitory, the traditional habitat uses local materials (stone, ground, wood, straw), as for the boxes peules or the boxes with Impluvium casamançaises.

It is precisely of Casamance that is originating the architect diola today most productive in his country and abroad, Pierre Goudiaby Atepa. It conceived several great contemporary achievements, the such Porte of the Third millennium in Dakar.

Visual arts

Ousmane Sow, sculptor

Mode

Oumou Sy, costumière and designer

Cinema

See also: Senegalese Cinema, List of films made to Senegal

The Senegalese cinema is one of oldest of Africa. Its most known representatives are the scenario writers Ousmane Sembène - also novelist - and Djibril Diop Mambéty, for which it is necessary to add Safi Faye, film producer documentary.

These productions are appreciated often better abroad than in Senegal where many rooms closed, competed with by the more flourishing market of the video.

It is also noticed that many films of various origins were turned in this country with the favorable climate and the landscapes of photogéniques.

Music

Cook

Education

Sport

Infrastructures

Paris-Dakar

The Rallye Dakar (or “Dakar”, in the past Paris-Dakar rally) is a professional rally-raid, which disputes each year in January, mainly on the African continent with arrival in suburbs of Dakar on a beautiful sand beach vis-a-vis the Atlantic Ocean. But following deaths of children of villager, the dispute became international thanks to the CAVAD, Collectif for the anonymous Victims of Dakar which joins together French associations, African, Portuguese, Spanish, Moroccan, Malians, Guinean and sénégalaises.

Football

Fight sénégalaise

Box

Boxing knew its letters of glory with Battling Siki (1897-1925), world champion at 25 years and first African to gain a world title of Boxe, remains in all the memories. More close to us, Free-Senegalese Souleymane Mbaye became champion of France WBC thelight ones.

Basketball

The basketball is snuffed less than football, it is however a very practiced sport, stimulated by successes of its national team of Basket-ball, the Lions of Senegal and the players such as DeSagana Diop, Boniface Dong, El Kabir Pene or Maleye Doye.

Other sports

The other sports are also well represented: the sénégalaise team of sporting Pêche (Foamed Mbengue, Abdoulaye Kébé, Cyril Calendini, Dominique Dussaut) became world champion in 2002 and 2003. Allured by often lenient weather conditions and the coastal resources, the visitors come many to practice the Water sports such as the Plongée underwater or the Surf, and the reputation of the Almadies or the vagueness of Ouakam is not any more to make. On its side, the Aviation of leisure - in particular ULM - allows a new approach of the landscapes, in a region deprived of true mountains. Cape Skirring and the Sine-Saloum constitutes destinations of choice then.

Religions

The population sénégalaise is very mainly Musulman E (88 to 94% according to the sources), but the Chrétiens (especially the Catholique S) are also present (4 to 12%), and the Animisme is practiced mainly in the south-east of the country, but often cohabits with the other religions.

Senegal is famous for its religious tolerance. It is not rare to find members of the same family having different religions. The interreligieux marriages are numerous. Muslim holidays and Christian women are also celebrated and respected by different the Moslem brotherhoods and the other communities.

Company and daily life

Media

Media as well private as public are well represented and have a relative freedom. The press sénégalaise represents especially the political opinions of the various parties. There are very few specialized magazines at the national level (ex: women's magazines).

Senegal

Etymology

History

Prehistory

Neolithic era

First kingdoms

Colonization

Colonial conquest

The colonial order

Independent Senegal

Sénégambie

Conflict in Casamance

Relations with Mauritania

Policy

Executive power

Legislative power

Judicial power

Geography and climate

Climate

Administrative divisions

Reserves and national parks

Demography

General indicators

Exile

Ethnicities

Economy and development

Economic partnerships

Commercial products

Economic difficulties

Transport

Infrastructures

Limits

Culture

Linguistic diversity

Literature

Structure

Visual arts

Mode

Cinema

Music

Cook

Education

Sport

Infrastructures

Paris-Dakar

Football

Fight sénégalaise

Box

Basketball

Other sports

Religions

Company and daily life

Media

Trade unionism

Female condition

Health

Personalities