Senegal

SENEGAL

Information about travelling to Senegal

Senegal is located in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

Facts about Senegal
Population12,853,259 (July 2008 est
CapitalDakar
Time zoneUTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

General info about Senegal
The French colonies of Senegal and the French Sudan were merged in 1959 and granted their independence as the Mali Federation in 1960. The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982, but the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC) has led a low-level separatist insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s, and several peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict. Nevertheless, Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Senegal was ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until current President Abdoulaye WADE was elected in 2000. He was reelected in February 2007, but complaints of fraud led opposition parties to boycott June 2007 legislative polls. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.
Disease threats
degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepat
Languages spoken
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
What about drugs?
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis
Ethnic division
Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
0.8% (2003 est.)
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Resources
fish, phosphates, iron ore
Economy
In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging over 5% annually during 1995-2008. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the single digits. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy. High unemployment, however, continues to prompt illegal migrants to flee Senegal in search of better job opportunities in Europe. Senegal was also beset by an energy crisis that caused widespread blackouts in 2006 and 2007. The phosphate industry has struggled for two years to secure capital, and reduced output has directly impacted GDP. In 2007, Senegal signed agreements for major new mining concessions for iron, zircon, and gold with foreign companies. Firms from Dubai have agreed to manage and modernize Dakar's maritime port, and create a new special economic zone. Senegal still relies heavily upon outside donor assistance. Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief program, Senegal has benefited from eradication of two-thirds of its bilateral, multilateral, and private-sector debt. In 2007, Senegal and the IMF agreed to a new, non-disbursing, Policy Support Initiative program.
Environment
wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing

Cities in Senegal

bakel     bambey     bignona     dagana     dahra     dakar     diofior     diourbel     fatick     foundiougne     gandiaye     gollere     gossas     goudomp     guinguineo     kaffrine     kahone     kanel     kaolack     kebemer     kedougou     khombole     kolda     koungheul     linguere     louga     marsassoum     matam     mbacke     mbour     mekhe     ndioum     nioro     ourossogui     oussouye     passi     podor     pout     richard toll     saint-louis     sedhiou     semme     sokone     tambacounda     thiadiaye     thies     thilogne     tivaouane     velingara     waounde     ziguinchor    


Airports in Senegal
BakelBXE
YoffDKR
KoldaKDA
KedougouKGG
KaolackKLC
MatamMAX
Niokolo KobaNIK
PodorPOD
Richard TollRDT
SimentiSMY
TambacoundaTUD
ZiguinchorZIG


Beer in Senegal (0.33l)
Dakar~ 0.7 EUR
Kaolack~ 0.5 EUR
Kedougou~ 0.7 EUR
Toubacouta~ 0.7 EUR

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