The Republic of Senegal (French République du Sénégal) is a
country in West Africa. It stretches from the foothills of the
Sahara in the north, where the country borders Mauritania, to the
beginning of the tropical wet forest in the south, neighbors Guinea
and Guinea-Bissau, and from the cool Atlantic coast in the west to
the hot Sahel region the border with Mali in the east. The southern
parts of French-speaking Senegal, the Casamance, are separated by
the small English-speaking state of Gambia, which extends deep into
the east.
The capital is the megacity Dakar, other important
cities are Pikine, Touba, Guédiawaye and Thiès. Under the government
of President Macky Sall, plans to expand the young town of
Diamniadio, conveniently located at the entrance to the Cap Vert
Peninsula, into a second seat of government next to Dakar have been
producing initial results since 2014.
The area of Senegal has
been part of the Islamic world since the 11th century. Today more
than 95 percent of the country's residents profess Islam. After
being ruled by several African empires, the region became a French
colony in Africa in 1895. On August 20, 1960, the Republic of
Senegal became independent and has maintained a multi-party system
ever since, becoming one of the few democratic states on the African
continent.
However, from the 1980s onwards, dependence on a
few export goods such as peanuts, phosphates and fish, rapid
population growth and national debt led to impoverishment and
growing social tensions in the previously prosperous Senegal, which
was also compounded by Casamance's attempts to secede from 1982
onwards. As a result, Senegal became dependent on loans from
industrial and oil countries as well as development aid. The
economic recovery is gradual.
Since 2008, Senegal has been divided into 14 regions, which in turn are divided into a total of 45 departments.
The emergence of cities is a relatively new phenomenon. Unlike
neighboring countries, no trading cities were founded in Senegal because
the country was off the trade routes through the Sahara. In 1920 there
were only four places with a population of over 5,000 inhabitants.
During the colonial period, towns were founded primarily along the
railway line that opened up the Peanut Basin.
The cities began to
grow rapidly from 1955 onwards. In contrast to many countries in the
Global South, urbanization is not just limited to the capital. The
growth is fueled on the one hand by labor and training migration to
Dakar, but also to the secondary centers in which medium-sized towns
have now become large cities. Rapid urbanization is also taking place in
small towns along supply routes, which is driven forward by numerous
refugees from the countryside, especially during droughts. Another
characteristic of urbanization in Senegal are the rapidly growing holy
cities, where numerous believers settle in order to be closer to the
shrine. The population of Touba grew from 3,000 inhabitants in 1961 to
more than 500,000 people.
In cities whose growth is mainly fueled
by rural refugees, neighborhoods are formed that are populated by people
from the same region or the same ethnic origin. Networks of solidarity
are formed there; At the same time, however, the main interest of the
new city dwellers remains in their old homeland. In times of crisis or
during school holidays, the family is sent back to their home village
because survival is easier there in the extended family. At the same
time, transfer payments and new ideas from the city lead to rapid
modernization processes in the countryside. In 2021, 49 percent of
Senegal's residents lived in cities. Many cities in Senegal are growing
rapidly. The largest cities are (as of the 2013 census):
Dakar
(including Pikine and Guédiawaye): 2,647,000 inhabitants
Touba:
753,000 inhabitants
Thiès: 318,000 inhabitants
Kaolack: 234,000
inhabitants
M'bour: 233,000 inhabitants
Rufisque: 221,000
inhabitants
Saint-Louis: 210,000 inhabitants
Ziguinchor: 205,000
inhabitants
Gorée (île de Gorée) . Island off the coast of Dakar that was the
largest slave market on the west coast of Africa from the 15th to the
19th centuries. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. A
visit is recommended, even if this world heritage site is not maintained
as well as one would like. The island itself is worth seeing, it offers,
among other things: picturesque streets reminiscent of Mediterranean
towns. From the island top, which was last fortified during the Second
World War and on which several artists have now settled, you have a
wonderful panoramic view. A visit to the slave house (Maison des
esclaves) with a guided tour should definitely be part of it, even if
the facilities and care cannot be compared with, for example, a slave
house. B. the Slave Museum in Cape Town (South Africa). We had a very
good and committed official guide in French, but there are also
German-speaking guides. Also noteworthy is a monument to the pharmacists
(and doctors) who gave their lives fighting epidemics.
Saint Louis.
The former capital of Senegal (1872–1952) is located on an island in the
Senegal River and was added to the World Heritage List in 2000. The
well-preserved colonial architecture with the old town and the harbor
facilities is impressive.
Stone Circles of Senegambia. A total of
around 1000 prehistoric monuments stretch along the Gambia River over a
width of 100km and a length of around 350km. The stone circles form a
total of four groups with 93 stone circles: Sine Ngayène, Wana, Wassu
and Kerbatch. Its creation is dated between the third century before and
the 16th century after Christ. Overall, the monuments, which also
contain burial mounds, represent a period of 1,500 years of
civilization. This megalithic zone is unique in the world. It has been a
world cultural heritage site since 2006.
Mussel Culture by Joal
Fadiouth (Joal-Fadiouth) . Little is known about this culture, except
that between 1,000 and 700 years ago these people piled up islands in
shallow estuarine water composed only of shells. Unfortunately, the
highest of them was removed many years ago because its material, the
mussel shells, was used for road construction. The walk over long wooden
bridges to the place, which is built on shells, is impressive. After a
tour of the town, you can continue to the burial island or take a boat
ride. There, too, the paths, the Christian and Muslim burial mounds are
made of shells, and even the concrete of the protective wall.
Senegal has several national parks, two of which have been UNESCO
World Heritage Sites since 1981.
Djoudj National Park (parc
national des oiseaux du Djoudj) . Reserve north of the city of Saint
Louis, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the largest
bird reserves in West Africa with around 330 bird species.
Langue
de Barbarie National Park (parc national de la Langue de Barbarie) . An
approximately 20km² reserve located at the mouth of the Senegal River.
Waterfowl and European migratory birds.
Delta du Saloum National Park
(parc national du delta du Saloum). Park with swamps and mangrove
forests located approximately 150km southeast of Dakar. Birds and also
mammals.
Basse-Casamance National Park (parc national de la
Basse-Casamance) . Wet savannahs and dense forests crossed by waterways.
The animals that live here include 200 different species of birds and
around 50 different species of mammals such as leopard, African forest
buffalo and western red colobus.
Iles de la Madeleine (parc national
des îles de la Madeleine) . Many species of birds can be observed here.
Niokolo-Koba National Park (parc national du Niokolo-Koba). UNESCO world
natural heritage site located approximately 650km east of Dakar with an
area of 9500km². In addition to around 80 species of mammals, you can
find around 300 species of birds here. The last herd of elephants in
Senegal is at home here. The Gambia (river) flows through the park.
You can fly from Dakar to the Hotel Simenti, picturesquely located
on the Gambia River in the middle of the national park. By car, the
direct route from Dakar via the N1 is difficult and dusty.
The
official gate to the park is in Dar Salam on N 7. In addition to the
entrance, you can always hire a park guide to accompany you in the park
(Jan 2009 = 5000 CFA per day). Guided tours will i. d. R. offered in
French, there are individual guides who also speak English, one who also
spoke German to a reasonable extent. There is a good campsite right at
the entrance, some of those in the park are very simple (tents are free
of charge), but there are also some with air conditioning in the hut,
such as: B. the one at the Hotel Simenti. For animal and plant lovers, a
trip is worthwhile if you take enough time to observe animals. Almost
only the morning and evening are suitable for this, but e.g. B. Being
able to observe lions requires luck, and an off-road vehicle is helpful.
A detour further south to the Bedick (very good, pleasant campement
"Chez Leontine"), near Bandafassi and to the Bassari as well as a visit
to the waterfall of Dindefelo (two good campements there) are
worthwhile. This tour is only possible with off-road vehicles from
around Kédougou.
1 Les Almadies (Almadies)
2 Saly
3 Nianing
Senegal has abolished visa requirements for tourist stays for 125
countries. This includes the entire EU, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
As for Europeans, Albanians and nationals of the former Yugoslavia
continue to require entry permits. These are available:
Embassy
of Senegal, Klingelhöferstr. 5, 10785 Berlin. Tel.: +49 (30) 8 56 21 90.
Also responsible for Austria. Senegal has appointed several honorary
consuls in the Federal Republic of Germany; these do not issue visas.
The local immigration police issue extensions. Open: Mon–Fri 9:00
a.m.–5:00 p.m.
The representative office in Geneva is at the Immeuble
International Center Cointrin, Route de Pré-Bois 20, Bâtiment H, 4ème
étage; 1215 Genève 15 Aéroport.
Allowances:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
1
bottle of liquor
1 bottle of perfume for personal use
Value
date without registration: import CFA 1,000,000 (approx. €1,500) and the
equivalent value of up to CFA 500,000 (approx. €750) for export.
There are import bans on pornography and subversive items. Weapons,
ammunition, protected animal species (CITES) and tomato paste (!)
require ministerial permission.
The German embassy provides an
information sheet on car registration. In principle, the seller is
responsible for twenty percent customs duty and VAT. to pay.
Dakar International Airport is served by numerous international airlines, both scheduled and charter. Air Maroc, Air France and others fly to Dakar daily from Frankfurt/Main.
The railway line from Dakar to Bamako in neighboring Mali was “operated” years ago by the Canadian company Transrail. They have completely closed the Senegalese section of the route. At the end of 2015, the state-owned Dakar Bamako Ferroviaire was founded, which has been renewing the route since the end of 2016 with Chinese help.
It is possible to take a minibus from Nouakchott in Mauritania via
the Diama Dam to Dakar for around €15. A person will be drawn at
departure who will travel for free. Since you cross the Diawling
National Park on the way, tourists are asked to pay a fee of 200 Ouguiya
(€5) shortly before leaving. The road is in poor condition on the
Mauritanian side (2019). The journey takes a full day.
Gambian
GTSC buses run daily from Serrekunda-Kanifing to/from Dakar. There are
also shared taxis for the same route for around €10 (6000 CFA), which
start around two kilometers from the Gambian border. You can get the
passenger seat for an extra 1000 CFA (2019).
The easiest way to get there from Europe is via Mauritania and the
ferry crossing at Rosso over the Senegal River.
The German
Foreign Office issued a leaflet on vehicle imports as the rules change
frequently. The import of vehicles up to 3.5 t that are more than eight
years old has been banned since 2012. Such vehicles may be used in
transit for 48 hours (not extendable) upon presentation of a carnet and
proof of valid liability insurance. Newer vehicles without a carnet
receive a passavant de circulation valid for 10 days, which can be
extended. If the car is sold, twenty percent duty and VAT are due, which
the seller must pay.
There is no regular ferry connection to Senegal.
The ferry
between Ziguinchor and Dakar (description) bypasses Gambia.
To get around the country you can use rental cars, bush taxis, buses,
trains or domestic flights.
Rental car
All major international
car rental companies have a branch in Dakar. An international driving
license is required.
Public transportation
The easiest way to
get around the country is to use bush taxis or local buses, which always
leave from a bus station (gare routière). Compromises have to be made
when it comes to comfort, but almost every place can be reached cheaply.
The destinations are announced loudly, although usually only the final
destination is stated. A little patience and no fear of apocalyptic
conditions in the big cities are recommended. Things are a little
quieter in the country. It is advisable to inquire about the usual fare
beforehand, as this takes time. You should also allow plenty of time and
patience for haggling over the fare! By the way, bush taxis are no
longer permitted in Dakar itself, so you have to look for them outside.
If you are traveling with four or more people, renting a bush taxi
for an entire trip can be worthwhile. To do this, you should take a
close look at the driver and vehicle beforehand, perhaps try it out
first and get involved in a long period of haggling and negotiating. The
four of us drove in an old Peugeot 505 with a very reliable, nice
driver, cheaper than a rented small car. On his recommendation, we ate
excellent and very cheap meals several times in Senegalese restaurants
along the route, especially since he asked or negotiated the prices for
us. In campements (and some rural hotels) drivers are usually
accommodated and fed free of charge.
The official language is French, which can be used in all official offices. French speakers are very common in cities and near the coast, but inland it becomes less common and vocabulary is often limited to everyday things. When traveling, it is advisable to at least learn greeting formulas in Wolof, the common lingua franca, beforehand. This can make things easier, as Senegalese take a lot of time for the (ritualized) greeting (although you politely don't look at each other!) and to check how you are , the last night, ask the parents and children before they slowly bring up the topic.
Senegal is a poor but not cheap travel country. Credit cards are only
accepted in larger hotels. Because of the fixed exchange rate, it is
advisable to bring euros with you.
Hawkers, beggars and “tourist
guides” crowd in.
Like almost everywhere in Africa, you should avoid running water and
raw food (including salads). Meat, vegetables and fruit should only be
eaten well cooked or well-fried, and fruit should only be eaten if it
has been peeled. If you observe this and basic hygiene, you can eat
Senegalese cuisine safely. It is based on a “saturation base”, be it
millet, rice, wheat semolina (couscous) with a tasty sauce and
vegetables. There is also chicken meat or beef, mutton, goat or sheep
meat, fish or seafood. Depending on the region and the cook, hot spices
are used. Hot spices do not cause any harm, but they do help with
digestion.
Thiéboudiène is Senegal's soul-warming national dish,
a rich, flavorful and deeply spiced blend of rice, vegetables and fish.
Café Touba is a coffee that is roasted with jarr (guinea pepper) and
optionally cloves. It tastes very spicy and is offered in small shops
and by hawkers everywhere for very little money.
Filled baguettes,
like Café Touba, can be found practically everywhere. The sliced
baguettes are filled with mayonnaise, onions and various cooked dishes.
Often chicken, potatoes, beans or liver.
Fataya are dumplings with a
spicy meat filling.
There are three casinos in Senegal, all in Dakar.
Prostitution
is legal (but practiced discreetly) and regulated in Senegal. Workers in
this sector must be over 21, undergo monthly examinations and have a
sanitary carnet. Only about a quarter of the prostitutes are actually
registered; in particular, the men who specialize in the numerous
European female sex tourists are not recorded; Among the unregistered,
the rate of HIV infection is only 7%.
In the capital, Dakar, you can find all the French hotel chains with
their modern, air-conditioned ambience and prices like those in Europe.
There are also hotels that meet this standard in other larger cities.
These are suitable for travelers without knowledge of French as they
also have English-speaking (sometimes Portuguese and Spanish-speaking)
staff. I found the colonial-style Hotel Océanic, very close to the
"Kermel" market, charming, although in need of some renovation. The
price-performance ratio is very good and the hotel is so centrally
located that you can visit Dakar on foot. The French and some Spanish
speaking staff were very friendly and helpful. There are now several
hostels in Dakar for 6 to 10€ in a dorm.
In rural Senegal,
especially in Casamence and in the southeast (in and around the Niokolo
Koba National Park), there are campements run by locals, fenced areas,
mostly with beautiful trees in which there are small (local) huts. In
the large main room they usually have a large double bed with a mosquito
net, sometimes also a closet or chest of drawers. One or two additional
beds are welcome. Behind it there is a simple sanitary area with a
toilet (occasionally with a squat toilet) and often a sink and always a
shower facility, which consists of a shower with running (or just
trickling) water or a bucket of water with a scoop (which I almost
prefer). You should look at the huts beforehand to be sure that you will
like the cleanliness, facilities, etc. B. with mosquito net.
Improvements can also be made.
I just want to mention a very
excellent campsite in Nianing, about 100km south of Dakar directly on
the Atlantic coast, the BenTenier. It is excellently run by a French
woman who is married to a Senegalese man. It is exemplary clean, laid
out like a small nature park with its own swimming pool (you can also go
swimming in the Atlantic through a back exit, although a walk outside
the town is recommended) and an excellent restaurant with French and
regional cuisine. The owners are also financially committed to building
preschools in the area. You can get very good information there if you
know French, but you can also get by with English. This campsite is,
among other things, very suitable for initially adapting to the slower
pace of life and the climate. A stay over the New Year is very popular
because you can experience a Senegalese celebration with musical and
dancing griots in a wonderful atmosphere and delicious cuisine.
Armed robberies are not uncommon.
Both the German and Austrian
foreign ministries advise against traveling to the border area of Mali
and Mauritania: “Non-essential travel to the immediate border areas with
Mali and the southern part of Mauritania in the Matam department is not
recommended.” The region on the Senegal River between Podor and the
border with Guinea should be avoided. (As of: Sep 2022)
Senegal
is considered one of the most politically stable African countries with
a good integration of numerous peoples and a functioning democracy.
Nevertheless, here too the gap between rich and poor is wide. Petty
crime is particularly common in larger cities.
In the south of
the country on the border with Gambia and Guinea-Bissau in the province
of Casamance (south-western province) there are partial clashes between
government troops and the rebel organization MFDC. Away from the
thoroughfares, there is also a danger of mines. The situation here has
improved since 2015.
Travel on national roads №5
Ziguinchor-Banjul and the №4 “Transgambienne”, which connects Ziguinchor
with Dakar via the bridge in Farafenni, Gambia, should be approached
with particular caution, as armed robberies have occurred in the past.
Driving at night is generally not recommended.
Travel health insurance should be taken out beforehand. Medical care is not of European standard (with the exception of Dakar). The hygienic conditions, especially the drinking water supply, are also not at European standards. Dust pollution can be severe during the dry season (November-May) in the Sahel region.
In Dakar you can find the appropriate specialists for all
disciplines. The Hospital Prinzal de Dakar in Dakar is considered one of
the medical reference centers in West Africa. For travelers who need to
take regular medication, it is recommended that they be taken with them.
In Dakar, all common medications can be obtained from pharmacies (mostly
from France), but counterfeit medications cannot be completely ruled
out. In the countryside there are health stations (centre medical) that
provide basic medical care and whose staff also speak French.
The
German embassy offers a list of doctors to download.
Practically the full range of tropical diseases is on offer. Senegal
is a yellow fever and malaria area (more than 70% of all cases are M.
tropica). A yellow fever vaccination is recommended for all travelers.
It is only required when entering from a yellow fever area (except for
children under one year of age), i.e. H. most of the African states
south of Senegal,
There should also be vaccination protection
against tetanus, diphtheria, polio, hepatitis A, and for long-term stays
of more than four weeks, hepatitis B, rabies, typhus and meningococcal
disease (including types A and W).
The standard vaccinations for
children recommended by the Robert Koch Institute should all be carried
out.
There is a risk of contracting malaria throughout the
country. In Senegal, the dangerous malaria tropica is responsible for
over 70% of cases. Taking tablets as a preventive measure is
recommended. Further protective measures include mosquito nets,
mosquito-proof clothing, avoiding particularly dark and particularly
light clothing and using insect repellent. These also apply to prevent
infection with dengue fever (also transmitted by mosquitoes).
To
prevent diarrhea, the old adage “cook it, peel it or forget it” is
recommended. The most dangerous diarrheal disease is cholera, and the
region around Touba is particularly at risk.
Another disease that
can have unpleasant consequences is schistosomiasis, which you can
become infected with when swimming in fresh water in stagnant or
slow-moving water.
HIV/AIDS: In Senegal, around 1% of the
population is infected with HIV, although 27% of prostitutes are
infected. Condoms, clean injection equipment and no contact with blood
are the basic rules for avoiding infection.
In Senegal, the weather is determined by a typical tropical climate
with clearly defined rainy and dry seasons. In winter there are
predominantly north-easterly winds and in summer predominantly
south-westerly winds. The average rainfall is 600 mm, most of which
falls between June and October. The amount of precipitation increases
from the savannah-like north to the wooded south (rainforest), here the
amount of precipitation can be more than 1500 mm. In the rainy season
from June to October the maximum temperatures are 27°C and in the winter
between December and February the average temperature is a minimum of
17°C. In general, temperatures inland are higher than on the coast.
The best time to travel is spring with low rainfall and pleasant
temperatures. In principle, however, Senegal is easy to travel all year
round.
Despite the fun-loving and colorful nature, Senegal is a predominantly Muslim country. Therefore, appropriate behavior that applies to other Muslim countries must be observed. In particular, mosques should be treated with the necessary respect, i.e. H. enter without shoes and with your head covered. Clothing that is too revealing is also not an advantage.
As almost everywhere in Africa, caution is advised when photographing
uniformed personnel (including police stations), embassies and
government buildings. Foreigners must be able to identify themselves at
all times.
Customs offenses are punished comparatively
draconianly (prison). Possession of narcotics is severely punished;
German citizens are subject to Senegalese law. Homosexuality is
punishable under Senegalese law. Violations of public morality in
general - discreet prostitution is permitted - as well as sex with
people under 16 can also be punished with fines.
The
toponym "Senegal" comes from the hydronym - the Senegal River, which
flows along the northern border of the country. The hydronym,
apparently, goes back to the name of the kingdom "Sangana", which
was mentioned by the Arab writer and geographer of the XI century
Al-Bakri. Later Arabic authors in the 16th century mention the
hydronym in the form "Singilu", and European navigators in the form
"Senega". The toponym may be based on the Berber ethnonym “Sangaya”,
which was used to designate the Berber tribal union Sanhaji (Arab.
صنهاجة Ṣanhaja; Berber. ⵉⵥⵏⴰⴳⴻⵏ Iẓnagen), which is mentioned by
Arabic sources from the 9th century.
There is also an
alternative point of view, for example, the name Senegal is a
distorted Arabic version of the combination of the name Horn - the
supreme deity in the Serer religion (Serer Rog Sene) and o gal,
meaning a body of water in the Serer language. There is also a
version of a Wolof borrowing that it comes from the Wolof Sunuu
Gaal, which means "our canoe" and refers to the Senegal River Delta,
which has always had many fishing boats.
Regardless of the
version of the origin of the name, during the Portuguese and then
the French colonization, the form of the hydronym and, then,
respectively, the toponym Senegal was established.
Senegal is a coastal state on the Atlantic coast around Cap Vert in
the far west of Africa. In the north and northeast, Senegal borders
Mauritania with the border river Senegal and in the east, the left
Senegal tributary Falémé forms the border with neighboring Mali. In the
south, a land border that runs almost exactly in an east-west direction
leads back to the Atlantic with the neighboring states of Guinea and
Guinea-Bissau. Excluded from this circumscribed border is a strip of
land in the south of the Atlantic on both sides of the mouth and the
navigable lower reaches of the Gambia River. This 300 kilometer deep
gash forms the territory of Gambia. The border between Gambia and
Senegal makes it difficult to connect Senegal's southwest region of
Casamance to the rest of the country.
Due to regional differences
in rainfall, Senegal lies in the transition from the barren vegetation
of the Sahel zone in the north to the more fertile tropics in the south.
The highest elevation in the country (♁12° 22′ N, 12° 33′ W) is the summit of the Nepen-Diakha Mountains at 645 meters. These are located in the Kédougou region on the border with Guinea, 126 km west of the border triangle with Mali and Guinea. The coast is 531 kilometers long. The landscape consists of plains that slowly rise to the mountain foothills in the southeast. In the south of the country - near Vélingara - lies the Vélingara crater.
Rivers
The Senegal Current is the most important river in the
country. It rises as Bafing in the mountains of Fouta Djallon in Guinea.
After confluence with the Bakoye in Mali, it absorbs the Falémé as the
border river between Mali and Senegal. From then on, Senegal forms
Senegal's northern border with Mauritania over a length of around 500
km. Other important rivers in the country are Casamance, Gambia and its
tributaries Koulountou, Sine and Saloum. What all of these bodies of
water have in common is that they have a very low gradient due to the
country's very flat surface profile. All main streams flow into the
Atlantic Ocean in extensive deltas. The water supply is subject to
pronounced seasonal fluctuations. In the dry season, on the one hand,
seawater can penetrate several hundred kilometers upstream with the tide
(on the Senegal River, this tidal flow was limited by the construction
of the Diama Dam), while on the other hand, during the rainy season,
floods and floods are common.
Lakes
The largest lake in the
country is the shallow Lac de Guiers with a north-south extent of 80 km
and an east-west extent of up to 12 km. During the rainy season the lake
can expand considerably south into the Ferlo. Lac de Guiers is of great
importance for the drinking water supply of the region as well as Dakar.
The salt lake Lac Retba, not far from Dakar, is famous for its pink
color due to the activity of organisms in the water. It is important for
salt production and tourism; it is on the Senegalese list of proposals
for UNESCO World Heritage.
Sea
The approximately 500 km long
Atlantic coast of Senegal is characterized by the meeting of the cool
Canary Current, the warm equatorial current and cold upwelling water.
The Canary Islands Current dominates in the dry season between December
and April. The water temperature of the Canary Current, which is below
20 °C, and the cold upwelling water make the Senegalese coast a cold
water coast in the winter months. In the rainy season between June and
November, however, the equatorial current dominates with water
temperatures of 27–28 °C. The combination of nutrient-rich deep water
and the high production of phytoplankton in surface water leads to very
large fish populations; The seasonal change in water temperature leads
to long-range migration of fish species, e.g. tuna.
The climate of Senegal is characterized by a pronounced change
between the dry north-east trade wind and the moist air masses of the
West African monsoon and the associated marked change between dry and
rainy seasons.
During the summer months from April to October,
the country is in the influence zone of the West African monsoon, which
advances northwards. This brings heavy rainfall to the south of Senegal,
while it leads to showers in the north. In the winter months between
October and April, dry, continental air penetrates south from the
northeast; The harmattan is blowing, a dry, partly dust-laden wind. At
the same time, moist and cool passatic air masses prevail on the coast.
Annual rainfall varies from 1500 millimeters in the south to less
than 350 millimeters in the north and northeast. What is crucial for the
country, however, is the variability of precipitation. A drop in average
annual precipitation between 1968 and 1973 led to a long-term drought.
Short periods of drought within a rainy season are also a significant
risk to agriculture and can cause serious crop losses.
Temperatures range from 22 to 27 °C in winter on the coast and over 40
°C at the end of the dry season inland. Humidity only occurs for a short
time in March and April.
Alternations between wet and dry phases
have been normal over the last 20,000 years; For a long time it was
unclear whether the decline in precipitation recorded over the last 50
years was caused by humans or not. However, the country's slow
aridization is having devastating effects on nature, people and the
economy.
National Parks
Basse-Casamance National Park (founded
in 1970)
Delta du Saloum National Park (founded in 1976): with swamps
and mangrove forests; Birds and also mammals
Djoudj National Park
(founded in 1971): UNESCO World Heritage Site; one of the largest bird
reserves in West Africa with around 330 bird species; From November to
April it is the home of European migratory birds
Îles de la Madeleine
National Park (founded in 1976)
Langue de Barbarie National Park
(founded in 1976): approximately 20 square kilometers; located at the
mouth of Senegal; Waterfowl and European migratory birds
Niokolo-Koba
National Park (founded in 1954): UNESCO World Heritage Site; 9500 square
kilometers; 80 species of mammals including Senegal's last elephants and
300 species of birds
The fauna of
Senegal is represented mainly in the south and southeast, where there
are savannahs and forests. There are lions, hippos, zebras, western
chimpanzees, flamingos, crocodiles and others.
Antelopes are
found in the savannas, and jackals, hyenas, leopards and cheetahs still
live in remote places. Many small rodents, birds, reptiles, insects
(including tsetse flies). Coastal waters are rich in fish, including
sharks.
The population is 18.1 million (January
2022 estimate).
Annual increase - 0.7% (fertility rate - 1.8
births per woman).
The average life expectancy is 59 years.
Ethnic composition: 20 ethnic groups, the most numerous of which are
the Wolof (43%), Fulbe (24%) and Serer (15%).
The official
language is French, which is spoken to varying degrees by about 90% of
the population; the status of national languages is Arabic (Hassania),
Balanta-Ganja and others. In total, 36 languages are spoken in the
country. Education for the deaf uses American Sign Language, introduced
by deaf American missionary Andrew Foster.
Literacy - 51% of men,
29% of women (2002 estimate).
Religions - Muslims make up 94% of
the population, Christians - 5%, local beliefs - 1%. Most Christians are
Catholics, but there are also Baptists, Adventists, and Pentecostals.
Urban population - 82% (2008 estimate). Infection with the
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - 1% (2007 estimate).
The period of empires in the development of Senegal is remarkable in that it was then, around the year 500, that two ethnic groups first appeared and formed on its territory: the Wolof and the Serer. In the 9th century, another ethnic group settled in the valley of the Senegal River - the tukuler, and from the 11th to the 14th centuries, the powerful state of the tukuler people - Tekrur began to dominate in eastern Senegal. By the 15th century, states of other peoples had also formed - the state of Wolof and the state of Serer.
In the
14th century, there were several "kingdoms" in the region, the most
powerful of which was the Jolof Empire. For a long time, the largest
center of the slave trade was located on the Senegalese island of
Karaban.
In the XV century, Europeans began to appear on the
coast of Senegal. The first of these were the Portuguese sailors of
the Dinis Dias expedition, who rounded the islands of Cape Verde and
reached Cape Verde. In 1633, other immigrants from Europe appeared
on the territory of Senegal - English and French merchants. In the
17th - 1st half of the 18th centuries, in the African-European
trade, which was held in their hands by the rulers of African
states, the export of slaves was becoming increasingly important.
Using firearms, African rulers at the head of their squads raided
their neighbors in order to capture prisoners for their subsequent
sale to Europeans.
From the middle of the
17th to the end of the 19th century. French colonization of West
Africa took place. First, the French founded the Senegal Company
there, and in 1638, at the mouth of the Senegal River, they
officially founded the trading port of Saint-Louis (since 1659 - the
city of Saint-Louis) - a trading post and a transit point for the
French fleet. The settlement that used to be here for such purposes
was also used earlier - from the end of the 15th century, but it
grew sharply only in 1697-1723. From 1693 to 1814, France and
Britain disputed control of the coast of Senegal. In 1758, during
the Seven Years' War, Great Britain captured Senegal, but as a
result of the Paris Peace Treaty of 1763, the British returned the
island of Gorée to the French[13], and the Paris Peace of 1783
returned the entire colony to the latter. In 1789, the French
garrison was the African battalion of two companies with a strength
of 250 people. But after 10 years, only 30 people remained in the
battalion, since the rest died from diseases and from clashes with
local residents. In May 1799 a company of Coloreds arrived,
consisting of 125 men and formed in France in May 1798 from blacks
and coloreds from the West Indies. On January 4, the British
launched a night attack on the city, which was repulsed by the
garrison.
In August 1802, 200 men arrived from the 46th
semi-brigade of the line. The Colored Company was renamed the
Auxiliary Company, consisting of 43 people, and soon they were
merged into the Senegalese Battalion, which in January 1809 already
had 165 people. In August 1803, a civilian unit was created similar
to the National Guard in France and called the Volunteers of
Senegal. However, on July 13, 1809, the garrison of Saint-Louis
capitulated to superior British forces and in 1814 the French Empire
left both Saint-Louis and the island of Giers under the Paris
Agreements, but in 1817 reoccupied these lands.
In the second
half of the 19th century, the French began to develop the hinterland
of Senegal. In 1848, slavery was abolished in Senegal. The French
under Léon Louis Fadherb expanded their colonial holdings in Senegal
and took control of the hinterland. In 1860, the leader of the
largest tribe of Senegal, the Tukuler, Hadj Omar, recognized the
protectorate of France, and by 1890, all the tribes of Senegal had
submitted to the French.
The French exported peanuts from
Senegal, gold was mined in small quantities. In 1885 the
Saint-Louis-Dakar railway was built. In 1895, Senegal became part of
French West Africa, and in 1902 Dakar became the administrative
center of this colony, and some residents of Dakar began to receive
French citizenship, namely the inhabitants of four districts in the
west of Senegal. From them, one deputy to the French parliament
began to be elected (the first black deputy was elected in 1914 -
Blaise Diagne, later he became deputy minister of the colonies of
France, remaining a member of the French parliament until his death
in 1934). Educational institutions were created to train blacks for
the colonial administration of all of French West Africa. Parts of
the French army began to form from the African population -
battalions of Senegalese riflemen.
In 1909-1923, a railway
was built from Dakar to neighboring French Sudan (now Mali). And in
the 1959-1960s, Senegal was administratively united with Mali.
In 1946, all the inhabitants of Senegal received French
citizenship, and the region itself became an overseas territory of
France.
At the end of World War II,
the national liberation movement intensified in the country. On
November 25, 1958, Senegal was proclaimed a self-governing republic
within the French Community. In 1959, Senegal and French Sudan
(Mali) united, forming the Federation of Mali, which gained
independence: on April 4, 1960, an agreement was signed on granting
it independence, which was officially proclaimed on June 20, 1960.
Due to political conflicts, the Federation collapsed, after which,
on August 20, 1960, Senegal and French Sudan (later renamed Mali)
declared their independence.
After gaining independence,
Senegal began to be ruled by the Progressive Union of Senegal (since
1976 renamed the Socialist Party of Senegal). The construction of
"African socialism" in Senegal was announced.
In 1976, an
amendment to the constitution was adopted, allowing the activity of
three political parties in Senegal - the Social Democratic, the
Liberal Democratic and the Marxist-Leninist. A number of left-wing
parties also existed illegally - the Party of Independence and
Labor, the Revolutionary Movement for New Democracy, and the Union
of Revolutionary Workers. In the early 1980s, many underground
political parties began to operate legally.
The armed
suppression of the coup in neighboring Gambia through the
intervention of the army of Senegal in late July-August 1981 was
condemned by absolutely all opposition parties.
In 1982,
together with the Gambia, a nominal Senegambia confederation was
formed, but real integration did not work, and in 1989 it collapsed.
The movement of democratic forces of Casamance, which declared
itself in 1982, despite negotiations with the government, continues
to provide armed resistance. Senegal also has a long history of
participating in peacekeeping missions.
Senegal is
a presidential republic. The head of state is the president, who is
elected by popular vote for a term of 5 years. He appoints the prime
minister, who, with the consent of the president, chooses the
cabinet. Since January 1997, a law was adopted to limit the branches
of government, while regional assemblies received greater powers.
The first president of independent Senegal was Léopold Sédar Senghor
(served from 1960-1980), representing the PSS (later, the Socialist
Party of Senegal). In 1981 he was replaced by Abdou Diouf, who also
represented the Socialist Party. Since 2000, the President of
Senegal has been Abdoulaye Wade of the Senegalese Democratic Party.
In the presidential elections held in March 2012, Maki Sall was
elected as the country's new president.
The National Assembly
is a legislative (representative) body of power, consisting of 120
deputies elected by the people. Deputies are elected by a mixed
electoral system for a term of 5 years. Under the system of relative
majority, 90 deputies are elected in 35 single- and multi-member
constituencies corresponding to the departments of Senegal, and an
additional 15 deputies representing voters living abroad. The
remaining 60 seats are distributed nationally through proportional
representation. Since 1976, the country has had a multi-party
system. The total number of political parties is not limited. There
are currently about 20 of them.
The judiciary consists of two
High Courts.
The main political parties in Senegal are:
Senegalese Democratic Party - liberal;
Socialist Party of
Senegal - Social Democratic;
Alliance of Progressive Forces -
Social Democratic;
Union for Democratic Renewal - Social
Democratic;
African Party of Democracy and Socialism - left
socialist;
Party of Independence and Labor - post-communist;
Democratic League / Workers' Party Movement - Communist.