Simple directory > Regional > Senegal

Country : Senegal Official name: République du Sénégal (Republic of Senegal) Head of State: President Abdoulayé Wade (sworn in Apr 2000) Head of government: Prime Minister Macky Sall (appointed 21 Apr 2004) Ruling party: Re-shuffled government (from 22 Apr 2004; President Abdoulayé Wade's coalition, Sopi (Change), an alliance of 40 parties dominated by the Parti Démocratique Sénégalais (PDS) (Senegalese Democratic Party). Area: 196,192 square km Population: 10.63 million (2004) Capital: Dakar Official language: French Currency: CFA franc (CFAf) = 100 centimes (Communauté Financière Africaine (African Financial Community) franc). New notes have been issued; old notes cease to be legal tender from Jan 2005. Exchange rate: CFAf507.21 per US$ (Nov 2004); CFAf655.95 per euro (pegged from Jan 1999) GDP per capita: US$603 (2003) GDP real growth: 6.30% (2003) Labour force: 4.60 million (2003) Unemployment: 48.00% (2003) Inflation: 0.20% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$91.50 million (2003) Foreign debt: US$3.10 billion (2003)

Historical profile

As a consequence of the gradual collapse of the Empire of Ghana, which encompassed a large part of Senegal, many kingdoms developed and flourished from the thirteenth to the fourteenth centuries in Senegal's current territory, including Djolof, Fouta, Cayor, Baol, Sine and Saloum. Portuguese traders made contact with these kingdoms in the fifteenth century. They were followed by the British, French and Dutch in the sixteenth century who all attempted to gain control of strategic points on the slave trade routes to the Americas. By the end of the nineteenth century, France controlled the whole of Senegal.

1960 Senegal gained independence from France as part of the Federation of Mali, which almost immediately collapsed due to conflicts between the political leaders of the two territories (former French Soudan and Senegal). An independent Senegal was proclaimed under President Leopold Senghor. He remained in office until he stepped down in 1980.

1978 The first multi-party elections were held.

1981 Abdou Diouf became president.

1982 Fighting began in Casamance between the Movement des Forces Démocratiques de Casamance (MFDC) (Democratic Forces of Casamance Movement), a separatist movement, and Senegalese government troops.

1983 The ruling Parti Socialiste Sénégalais (PS) (Senegal Socialist Party) returned to power with an overwhelming majority.

1993 Diouf was re-elected.

1998 The parliamentary elections were won by the PS; opposition parties contested the official results.

2000 The presidential elections were won by Abdoulayé Wade, ending Abdou Diouf's reign as head of state since 1981. Moustapha Niasse (AFP) was appointed prime minister by the president.

2001 A new constitution was adopted after more than 90 per cent had voted for it. Prime Minister Moustapha Niasse was dismissed by the president and was replaced by Mame Madior Boyé. President Wade's coalition won the parliamentary elections.

2002 The EU paid Senegal US$63 million to enable EU fishing trawlers to exploit Senegalese waters until 2006. The president dismissed Prime Minister Mame Madior Boyé and the cabinet. Idrissa Seck was named prime minister and a new cabinet was appointed.

2003 President Wade and King Mohammed VI of Morocco agreed to strengthen the political and economic co-operation between Senegal and Morocco. On 22 August, Prime Minister Idrissa Seck resigned but was immediately reinstated.

2004 On 21 April, President Abdoulaye Wade dismissed Prime Minister Idrissa Seck; Interior Minister Macky Sall was appointed prime minister.

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