|
|  |
| | |
| Official
Name: |
RÉPUBLIQUE
DU SÉNÉGAL (Republic of Senegal) |
| Land
Area: | 196,720
square kilometres / 75,950 square miles. | | Population: | 11,127,000
(est 2005). Density 56.5 persons per square kilometre. |
| Languages: | French
(official), Wolof, Pulaar, Mandinka-Malinké, Fula, Jola, others. |
| Religions: |
Sunni Muslim 90%,Christian 5%. | | Capital: | Dakar.
Population 1,870,000 | | Currency: | CFA,
divided into 100 centimes. | | Political: |
Independant from France
on 4 April 1960 and separated from the shortlived Federation of Mali on 20 August
1960. In 1966 the Senegalese Progressive Union, headed by Senghor, became the
country's only political party, re-elected overwhelmingly in 1968 and 1973. From
the mid-1960s, there was considerable dissatisfaction with the growing concentration
of power in Senghor's hands. He held power until Abdoulaye Wade of the Senegalese
Democratic party ended nearly 40 years of socialist rule in Senegal. In
Jan 2001, a new constitution was adopted, establishing a unicameral parliament
and reducing the president's term to five years. The Casamance region of southwestern
Senegal remains affected by insecurity involving separatist rebel groups. Strongman
Wade is still in control of the government. (March 2005) |
| Geography: | Senegal
consists mainly of flat plains, cut by three major rivers, the Senegal in the
North, forming the border with Mauritania, the Gambia river in the middle, surrounded
by the small country of the Gambia, and the Casamance river in the south, which
gives its name to the surrounding area, a fertile zone of forest and farmland. |
| National Flag
- Ratio 2:3 | Climate
at Dakar - elevation 40m/131ft | Position
in Africa |  |  |  |
|
