Senegal

Senegal, located on the westernmost tip of mainland Africa, is a vibrant West African nation known for its rich historical legacy, democratic resilience, and dynamic cultural identity. Bordered by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau, and enveloping The Gambia, it enjoys an extensive Atlantic coastline (531 km). Its capital, Dakar, serves as a political, commercial, and cultural hub and a leading centre of francophone Africa.

Historical Background

Human presence in Senegal dates back to the Palaeolithic era, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited regions in West Africa. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the Jolof Empire unified much of present-day Senegal, laying the foundation for regional trade and governance.
From the 15th century, Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British traders established coastal posts, notably on Gorée Island, which became a central node in the Atlantic slave trade. The island remains a memorial to this painful history, symbolising the transatlantic displacement of millions.
After slavery’s abolition (1815), France expanded its colonial control inland, incorporating Senegal into French West Africa (AOF). During World War II, Dakar emerged as a strategic port and administrative centre. Following decolonisation, Senegal briefly joined French Sudan to form the Mali Federation, which gained independence on 4 April 1960. The federation soon dissolved, and Senegal became a sovereign republic on 20 August 1960.
The country’s first president, Léopold Sédar Senghor, a philosopher and poet, promoted Négritude and laid the foundation for a stable one-party state under the Socialist Party (PS). Abdou Diouf succeeded him in 1981, overseeing political liberalisation. In 2000, Abdoulaye Wade (PDS) led the first peaceful democratic transition. His successor, Macky Sall (2012–2024), pursued infrastructure expansion and constitutional reforms limiting the presidency to two five-year terms.
In April 2024, Bassirou Diomaye Faye was inaugurated as President, with Ousmane Sonko as Prime Minister, following a highly participatory and peaceful election—affirming Senegal’s reputation as one of Africa’s most stable democracies.
The Casamance conflict in the south—an intermittent separatist insurgency since 1982—has largely subsided since the 2012 ceasefire, with most factions signing peace accords by 2023.

Geography and Environment

• Area: 196,722 sq km
• Borders: Mauritania (north), Mali (east), Guinea and Guinea-Bissau (south), The Gambia (enclave within Senegal)
• Coastline: 531 km (Atlantic Ocean)
• Terrain: Predominantly low-lying plains; rolling hills in the southeast
• Climate: Tropical; wet season (May–Nov), dry season (Dec–Apr), influenced by the Harmattan wind
• Rivers: Senegal, Gambia, Casamance
• Highest point: Nepen Diakha (581 m)

Land use (2022):

• Forest: 41.5%
• Agricultural land: 49.4%

Environmental issues: Deforestation, overfishing, soil erosion, and desertification. Senegal faces seasonal flooding and droughts but actively participates in global sustainability frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and Convention on Biological Diversity.

Population and Society

• Population (2024): 18.85 million
• Median age: 19.2 years
• Growth rate: 2.46%
• Urbanisation: 50% (rapidly rising)
• Major city: Dakar (3.34 million, 2023)

Ethnic composition: Wolof (40%), Pulaar (27.5%), Serer (16%), Mandinka, Jola, Soninke, and others.
Languages: French (official), Wolof (lingua franca), Pulaar, Serer, Mandinka, Jola.
Religion: 97% Muslim (mainly Sufi orders—Tijaniyya, Mouride, Qadiriyya, Layenne), 3% Christian (mostly Roman Catholic).
Social indicators (2024):

• Life expectancy: 70.6 years
• Infant mortality: 31.1 per 1,000
• Maternal mortality: 237 per 100,000
• Fertility rate: 4.2 children per woman
• Access to drinking water: 86.2%
• Access to sanitation: 77.4%
• Literacy: 50.4% (men 61.5%, women 41.5%)
• Education expenditure: 6.2% of GDP
• Health expenditure: 4.4% of GDP

The population’s youthfulness presents both an economic opportunity and a policy challenge for job creation, education, and gender equality.

Government and Politics

• Official name: Republic of Senegal (République du Sénégal)
• Government type: Presidential republic
• Constitution: Adopted 2001, amended 2016 (term limits restored)

Executive:

• President: Bassirou Diomaye Faye (since April 2024)
• Prime Minister: Ousmane Sonko (since April 2024)

Legislature:

• National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) — 165 members elected for five-year terms through a mixed system.
  • Ruling party: PASTEF (Patriotes Africains du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité) — 130 seats (2024).
  • Women’s representation: 41.2%.

Judiciary: Supreme Court, Constitutional Council, and lower courts. Legal framework based on French civil law with provisions for constitutional review.
Senegal’s democratic institutions are reinforced by a vibrant civil society and active political pluralism, with major parties including APR, PS, PDS, PUR, Rewmi, and PASTEF.

Economy

Senegal’s economy is diversified and services-driven, positioned as a regional trade and logistics hub.

• GDP (PPP, 2024): $83.2 billion
• Real GDP growth: 6.9% (2024)
• GDP per capita (PPP): $4,500
• Inflation: 0.8%
• External debt: $14.98 billion
• Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF) — pegged to the euro at 606 XOF/USD

Sectoral composition:

• Services: 49.1%
• Industry: 25.4%
• Agriculture: 15.5%

Agriculture: Groundnuts, rice, millet, maize, cassava, onions, and sugarcane.Industry: Phosphates, cement, gold, zircon, fertilizers, fish processing, petroleum refining, ship repair.Energy: Offshore oil and gas fields (Sangomar, GTA) expected to significantly boost revenue from 2025.
Trade:

• Main exports: Gold, refined petroleum, phosphoric acid, cement, fish.
• Main partners: Mali, India, Switzerland, China, UAE.
• Imports: Refined petroleum, machinery, rice, wheat, manufactured goods (mainly from China, France, Nigeria).

Remittances: 10.6% of GDP (vital for household income).

Energy, Infrastructure, and Communications

• Electricity access: 68% (urban 91%, rural 43%)
• Installed capacity: 1.77 million kW (2023)
• Energy mix: Fossil fuels 78%, wind 9.1%, solar 7.4%, hydro 3.9%
• Oil consumption: 65,000 bbl/day
• Natural gas production: 34.6 million m³ (2023)

Telecommunications:

• 22 million mobile subscriptions (120 per 100 inhabitants)
• Internet penetration: 61%
• Broadband: 357,000 connections (2023)
• Space programme: The Senegalese Space Study Agency (ASES), established 2023, supports climate monitoring and satellite cooperation.

Transport: Senegal boasts one of West Africa’s best infrastructure networks, including the Blaise Diagne International Airport, Dakar–Diamniadio Express Train, and deep-water port facilities.

Defence and Security

Senegalese Armed Forces (Forces Armées Sénégalaises): ~25,000 active personnel (2025).

• Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie.
• Budget: ≈1.6% of GDP.Renowned for discipline and regional engagement, Senegalese forces play key roles in UN and ECOWAS peacekeeping (CAR, Mali, DRC, Gambia).

Domestically, the National Police and Gendarmerie manage internal security and counterterrorism, particularly along Sahelian borders facing threats from JNIM and other militant groups.

Culture, Identity, and Heritage

Senegal’s national identity blends African, Islamic, and Francophone traditions. Sufi brotherhoods shape religious and civic life, while cultural expressions—from the Mbalax music of Youssou N’Dour to Laamb (wrestling)—unite communities.