Journalism - SENEGAL Country Facts

Senegal

Population: 10.6 million (UN, 2005) Capital: Dakar Area: 196,722 sq km (75,955 sq miles) Major language: French (official), Wolof Major religion: Islam Life expectancy: 54 years (men), 57 years (women) Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes Main exports: Fish, peanuts, petroleum products, phosphates, cotton GNI per capita: US $710 (World Bank, 2006) International dialing code: +221

Geography

Senegal is roughly the size of Great Britain. It lies in the tropics on the West Coast of Africa bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Its neighbouring countries are Guinea-Bissau and Guinea to the South, Mali to the East, Mauritania to the North, and The Gambia which is completely surrounded by Senegal. Senegal lies within the Sahel region; this semi-desert landscape covers an area between the Sahara to the North and the greener, forested areas bordering the Gulf of Guinea. Senegal possesses many tropical palm fringed beaches and several national parks including Parc National de Niokolo- Koba where you can view wildlife like hippos, monkeys, chimpanzees, warthog, crocodile and if you're lucky the elusive lion and leopard.

People

In central Senegal and along the coast the main ethnic group is the Wolof who make up about 43% of the population, 23% are Fula who live in the north and east and 15% are Serer also found in the central regions.

About 50% of the population live in the cities with the other half remaining in more rural areas, although like every African country, there is an increasing move towards urbanization. Population density is greater along the coasts with Dakar, the capital, housing over 2 million people. Younger Senegalese especially are attracted by the perceived higher standards of living in the capital and despite being a wealthier nation than many of its West African neighbours. Senegal still suffers from poverty, low literacy rates and increasing urban unemployment.

The official language of Senegal is French and this is the most common medium for radio and TV. There are also about 50 local languages. These languages reflect the ethnic groups found within Senegal and include Wolof, Diola, Fula, Malinke and Mandinka. Newspapers are produced primarily in French, with a few also produced in Wolof.

About 90% of Senegal's population is Muslim and both Islamic and Christian events are celebrated throughout the country. The remaining 10% of the population believe in a mixture of Christianity and traditional beliefs.

Brief History

Senegal has been inhabited since Paleolithic times. However, little is known about these societies. More is known about the Tukulor people, a major ethnic group in the 11th Century who occupied the lower Senegal Valley. It was during this time that the Islamic religion was brought to Senegal, and today over 90% of the Senegalese population are Muslim. When the Portuguese discovered Senegal in the 1440's, the region was under the control of the Jolof empire. The Portuguese set up various trading posts and remained until they were displaced by the Dutch and then the French. The French managed to gain hegemony over the region and traded in slaves, gold and gum. The French established a post at the mouth of the Senegal River in 1638 and in 1659 founded the town of Saint-Louis. In 1677, the French captured Gorée from the Dutch, and it was for a time the main French naval base in West Africa. Senegal became an independent state in June 1960.

Politics

Senegal was part of France's colonial empire in West Africa from the 1880s to 1960 when it became independent. The first few years of independence were marred by demonstrations and strikes, but avoided the violent clashes and coups experienced in many other West African countries. In 1980, Léopold Senghor - Senegal's first president - of the Parti Socialiste, stepped down voluntarily and handed the presidency over to Prime Minister Abdou Diouf. Doiuf won consecutive presidential elections - despite accusations of vote rigging - over a twenty-year period until 2000. The Diouf era was known for the troubles in the Casamance region in the far South of Senegal, and saw the emergence of Abdoulaye Wade as the main political opponent to Diouf. Wade's Parti Démocratique Sénégalais was gaining support with its calls for change. In 2000 the election finally went Wade's way, after two rounds of voting. The handover to Wade was peaceful and trouble-free, with Diouf accepting his defeat without protest. This affirmation of democracy led to a vote for a new constitution that reduced the president's term of office from 7 to 5 years. Currently Wade remains in power, and he aims to foster economic recovery through African-led reforms and good governance. He has also sought to strengthen ties with the US.

Economy

Senegal has a per capita income of about US$1,000. It is therefore one of the poorest countries south of the Sahara, with obvious poverty and crippling debts that date back to the 1970s when the country took out huge development loans. Like many countries in Africa the repayment schemes, often linked to production of cash crops or mineral exports, were not feasible and much of the money was wasted or embezzled. Senegal is now part of a worldwide debt reduction programme.

Senegal's economy remains reliant on agriculture and fishing, with tourism now becoming an increasingly large earner of foreign income. In recent years Senegal has become the most popular country to visit in the region largely due to its stunning scenery and beaches combined with several decades of political stability.