Senegal spans 196,190sqkm, which includes 531km of coastline along the Atlantic, and is the westernmost point in Africa. It is bordered by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau and surrounds the Gambia.

Senegal once belonged to some of the greatest empires of Africa, including that of ancient Ghana, of Mali and of the Songhai.

Europeans arrived around the 15th century and the slave trade quickly took hold. The island of Goree became an important trading post, changing hands between Portuguese, British, Dutch and French.
The French eventually dominated the area and governor Louis Faidherbe continued to expand the territory. He made the colony self-sufficient by using the local population to work on groundnut plantations.

Islam came to the area from North Africa in the 11th century but did not gain a stronghold until the 19th century when several Muslim leaders from the region organised resistance against the French and converted the Wolof, Senegal's largest ethnic group.
Today, between 90 and 94 percent of Senegal's population are Muslim, and Muslim leaders, called marabouts, hold significant sway over the population.

At the time, however, the French defeated Muslim forces and the territory became a French colony. The French made Dakar the administrative centre of French West Africa and granted French citizenship to the inhabitants of Dakar, Goree, Rufisque and St Louis, all colonial outposts. Senegal also sent representatives to the French Parliament.

In 1959, Senegal was joined with Mali to form the Mali Federation and independence was granted the following year. The federation quickly fell apart and Senegal became its own state, with philosopher, poet and proponent of African culture, Louis Leopold Senghor, the first president.

Senghor fostered strong ties with both the French, who maintained interests in the country, and the marabouts. This arrangement benefited the economy and stability of the country.

In 1980, Senghor retired and handed power over to Abdou Diouf, who allowed for greater pluralism in politics, liberalised the economy and broadened Senegal's influence within Africa.

During Diouf's time in power, Senegal and the Gambia joined to form the Senegambia in 1982 but the union dissolved in 1989 when Senegal tried to exert more dominance over the area.
The country also experienced violent protests over poor economic conditions, the arrest of political opponents, and border tensions with Mauritania that broke off relations and led to the expulsion of nationals from both countries.

A violent separatist movement sprang up in the southern Casamance region bordering Guinea-Bissau. Cut off from the rest of the country by the Gambia, locals in the region, which is mainly inhabited by the Jola, who are Catholic, complained of political dominance by the Wolof and isolation.

In 2000, elections were held and opponent Abdoulaye Wade won the vote. Diouf handed over power peacefully, maintaining Senegal's democratic legacy. Wade's victory was based on promises of change and greater transparency, but progress has been slow and corruption is not easy to control.

Peace and security

There is an ongoing low-level conflict in the southern Casamance region. The rebel group, the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC), was formed in the 1980s in a bid for independence and to protest at what it considered neglect from the federal government. The movement began with peaceful demonstrations but negative reaction from the government led to armed clashes between the Senegalese army and rebel forces.

In the 1990s Senegalese forces made a number of aerial cross-border attacks on Guinea Bissau and accused the government of supporting the MFDC.

Thousands have been displaced by the fighting, and landmines have claimed many lives.

A peace deal was signed in 2004, but splinter groups of the MFDC do not recognise the treaty. After a period of relative calm, violence resumed in 2005 and escalated in 2006.

In March 2006, separatists fought the Guinean army, displacing hundreds of villagers and forcing some to flee across the border into Senegal. And in June 2006, two rebel factions of the MFDC, one led by Salif Sadio and the other by Miagne Dieme, fought each along the Gambian border. The Senegalese army also launched a new offensive in 2006.

One of the signatories to the 2004 treaty, Father Augustin Diamacoune Senghor, who was a prominent leader in the secessionist movement, died in January 2007, undermining further progress in the peace process.

In December 2006, the Senegalese army announced it would begin demining operations in the southern part of the Casamance with Moroccan forces. Mines in the region have prevented many displaced from returning to their villages and left fields uncultivated.

In the past, Senegal had disputes with Mauritania over land and water for cattle. In 1989, tensions boiled over and led to the closure of both borders. Relations have been restored between the countries and a cattle migration accord was signed in May 2006 that further eased the situation.

Senegal has also participated in several African peacekeeping missions, most recently in Sudan and Côte d'Ivoire. Senegal's well-trained military consists of an army, navy, air force and gendarmerie with 17,000 troops. The military has maintained a policy of non-interference in politics, contributing to Senegal's political stability.

Refugees

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are about 20,000 refugees in Senegal, mostly from Mauritania, who crossed into Senegal in 1989 after clashes over land rights led to pogroms of black Africans in Mauritania. Nearly 4,000 still live in two camps, N'Dioum and Dodel, but most now reside in villages along Senegal's northern border with Mauritania. Refugees have not received aid since 1997.

Another 700 Guineans crossed into Senegal after violence erupted between separatist forces from Senegal's Casamance region and Guinea-Bissau's army in March 2006.

Fighting by the same rebel group in the latter part of 2006 forced 6,000 Senegalese to seek refuge in the Gambia.

According to UNHCR, in 2004 there were also 7,300 Senegalese refugees living in Guinea-Bissau due to ongoing separatist fighting in the Casamance. The conflict has also created 64,000 internally displaced people within the country.

UNHCR reports that Senegal has an estimated 2,500 asylum-seekers.

Democracy and governance

Senegal is one of the few countries in Africa to never have experienced a successful coup and power has always been transferred peacefully.

The country has a strong presidency but a legislature and a judiciary not as equally strong as the presidency.
The Socialist Party ruled for 40 years, first led by Louis Leopold Senghor and then Abdou Diouf.

Former opposition leader Abdoulaye Wade won the elections in 2000. His campaign was based on the promise of change and he led a multy-party coalition. Diouf did not contest the results and handed over the presidency peacefully, further strengthening democracy in the country.

Wade was elected to a seven-year term; however, he amended the constitution so that future presidents can only serve two terms and reduced the terms to five years. During his time in office he has focused on raising Senegal's international profile and nurturing ties with the United States. He is advancing a more liberal economic agenda that includes privatisation, but progress has been slow.

Presidential elections were set for February 2007 and legislative elections have been postponed until June 2007, their second postponement since 2005. There are almost 100 registered political parties in Senegal.

Former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck, once seen as Wade's successor, was arrested in 2005 on charges of corruption. The charges were subsequently dropped and he was released from prison in February 2006. He launched an opposition party to run against Wade in the upcoming elections, but recent talks with the president have raised speculation that he will re-join Wade's team.

Demonstrations organised by opposition parties have been broken up by police forces and there have been newspaper reports that the elections could be postponed, which would be a first in Senegal's political history.

Media

Senegal leaders has a lively and vibrant media, mainly due to the country's tradition of democracy. There are about 20 daily newspapers and many report on government inefficiencies and publish editorials critical of the government, although partisanship within the press exists.

Radio is influential, particularly outside the capital Dakar. Community and private stations proliferate around and international broadcasters are widely available.

The national broadcaster Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise (RTS) has a near-monopoly over television; however, satellite television carrying several international broadcasters is available and popular.

Reporters Without Borders places Senegal at 77 out of 168 countries on its Press Freedom Index, but has noted recent troubling developments, particularly in the lead-up to elections.

In October 2005, the Dakar office of the radio station Sud FM was raided and closed by police. Several correspondents were arrested and interrogated and relay stations were taken off air. The station had broadcast an interview with a rebel leader involved in the Casamance conflict.

In the last few months, there have been threats against journalists and one was jailed on charges of defamation.

After the 2004 arrest of a journalist on an obscure and repressive press law, Wade promised to reform the penal code; however, he has yet to do so.

Economy

Senegal's economy has grown steadily over the past decade, thanks to economic reforms from 1994, which included a devaluation of the West African currency, the CFA.

The country's main exports are derived from manufacturing, which according to the World Bank amounts to US$333 million worth of exports. Phosphates, groundnuts and fish are also exported. The country has burgeoning tourism, construction and telecommunications industries.

The government also has an agency aimed at attracting foreign investment. According to the US State Department, this helped to boost foreign investment from $30 million in the late 1990s to a current $70 million.

The World Bank reports that the country's economic growth rate went from 4 percent in 1996 to 6.4 percent in 2003-2004, but dropped to 5.5 percent in 2005. It is expected to drop further due to high oil prices, problems in the industrial sector and poor crops.

In 2004, Senegal reached its completion point for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative and the US State Department reported that Senegal was expected to apply for $850 million in debt reduction. The country still relies heavily on foreign assistance, which totals more than $750 million annually and accounts for 45 percent of overall government spending.

Remittances from Senegal's migrant population also contribute greatly to economic development. These remittances, coupled with high unemployment among the youth, encouraged many young Senegalese men to try to reach the Spanish Canary Islands on small fishing boats in a bid to find work on the mainland. In 2006, a record number attempted the trip. It is estimated that several thousands died and several thousand more were repatriated to Senegal.

Spain has given $25 million to Senegal to help curb migration through economic development and has promised to grant Spanish work visas over the next two years.

Population

Senegal has a population of 11.4 million people. The growth rate is 2.2 percent and on average women have five children.

Senegal has one of the highest urbanisation rates in West Africa. According to the UN Human Settlements Programme, 48 percent of the population lives in urban areas and the slum to urban population ratio is 76 percent.

There are several ethnicities in Senegal, the main one being the Wolof, who make up 43 percent of the population. Other important tribes include the Pular, the Serer, the Jola, and the Mandinka. Each ethnic group has its own language, but most speak Wolof.

French is the official language and there is a small population of French and Lebanese.

Between 90 and 95 percent of the population is Muslim. A form of Islamic Sufism is practised, consisting of four main brotherhoods led by marabouts, spiritual leaders who exert enormous influence over the population. The Mourides are the wealthiest and most powerful brotherhood.

Development indicators

Senegal is ranked 156 out of 177 countries on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Index. Life expectancy at birth is 56 years and there is a 26.6 percent probability of dying before the age of 40.

The adult literacy rate is 39.3 percent and the combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrolment rate is 38.1 percent.

Nearly one-quarter of the population has no access to an improved water source and 23 percent of children under the age of five are underweight.

Nearly one quarter of the population is living on less than $1 a day.

Education

Although Senegal posts high gross enrolment rates for primary school, actual attendance and completion rates have been slow to climb. According to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 64 percent of girls and 68 percent of boys attend primary school. Of those, only 45 percent complete the full course.

Rates dropped considerably at the secondary level, where 13 percent of girls and 18 percent of boys were enrolled. A contributing factor is that only a certain percentage of students are eligible for free secondary education based on exam results and many parents cannot afford private instruction.

Poverty also plays a role in gender disparity in education. Parents will often show a preference for sending boys to school, or girls who begin school are forced to drop out to work, get married or care for other siblings.

Challenges faced by schools include overcrowding with up to 70 students per classroom and a lack of resources, such as electricity, textbooks and running water. Repeated teachers' strikes over the past two years, particularly at the secondary level, have led to frequent disruptions in the school year and delays to end-of-year exams.

The education agency AID and Action noted a decline in students' language and mathematical skills, and that teacher training was less stringent.

Apart from public schools, Senegal also has private and religiousKoranic schools. Community-based schools are also encouraged.

Literacy rates remain low in the country and according to UNESCO stand at 51 percent for men and 29 percent for women.

Children

                           
In a recent report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Senegal, the National Coalition of NGOs and Associations for the Rights of Children identified several issues including begging, infant mortality, sexual exploitation, displaced children, mine victims, excision, child marriage and child labour.

Street children begging for money in urban centres is a highly visible problem in Senegal. These children are referred to as talibes and are male students of Koranic schools between the ages of five and 15 who are sent out to beg. Many are taken from rural areas and neighbouring countries including Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Mali, where parents cannot afford to send their children to school. There have been reports that the boys are beaten if they return to the schools with insufficient funds. According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), there are an estimated 100,000 talibes in the capital Dakar alone.

The US State Department's report on human rights also found that cases of paedophilia were often reported in the press and that incest, although rarely reported, was on the rise.

The Organisation ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) reported that sex tourism had become a new phenomenon in Senegal, and that children of both sexes solicit tourists.

The Center for Reproductive Law and Policy reported that infanticide was on the rise and that most cases were committed by young women who conceive outside marriage and hide their pregnancies for fear of family reprisal.

Although the legal age for marriage is 17 for girls, child marriage is still common, particularly in rural areas. According to UNICEF, 53 percent of girls in rural areas and 15 percent in urban areas were child brides. In 2006, the president spoke out against child marriage and called on his government to offer free treatment for obstetric fistula, a tearing in the vagina that leads to incontinence and is often a consequence of childbirth at an early age.

Child labour is also problematic and UNICEF states that 37 percent of children between five and 14 are engaged in some form of labour. The International Bureau of Labour reported that children were engaged in domestic work, salt and gold mining, rural farm work, working at dumpsites and as street vendors.

The conflict in the Casamance has displaced many children, forced many to abandon school and work instead, and there have been reports of children being injured by landmines left in fields. Local organisations have launched campaigns to raise awareness about mine risk and offer psychosocial support for landmine victims.

Health

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are six doctors for every 100,000 people in Senegal, and life expectancy is 56 years. The maternal mortality rate is 430 for every 100,000 live births and 57.8 percent of births are assisted by a skilled attendant.

According to UNICEF, the under-five mortality rate is 136 for every 1,000 children and the infant mortality rate is 77 per 1,000.

Malaria remains endemic and according to WHO, 28 percent of child deaths can be attributed to malaria. It also accounts for 20 percent of hospital admissions and 25 percent of hospital deaths.

The World Food Programme (WFP) also reports that iron anaemia and iodine deficiency rates are worryingly high and that the iron anaemia deficiency rate for children under five is 73 percent.

According to UNICEF, only 57 percent of the population is using adequate sanitation facilities, dropping to 34 percent in rural areas. In 2005, the country experienced epidemics of yellow fever and cholera.

HIV/AIDS

Senegal has one of the lowest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) the prevalence rate is 0.9 percent. The rate, however, is much higher among certain groups, including sex workers, at 10-30 percent, and men having sex with men, at 21.5 percent.

There are 61,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, including 5,000 children under the age of 14, and 25,000 children under the age of 17 have been orphaned by the disease.

The country has a National AIDS Committee (CNLS) which oversees the national response to the syndrome and has helped keep it under control by involving political and religious leaders in mobilising communities.

According to a progress report published by UNAIDS and the CNLS at the end of 2005, eight of the country's 11 regions had counselling and voluntary testing services and 91 percent had sites for the prevention of mother-child transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMCT). There were also 3,622 patients receiving anti-retroviral treatments.

Despite Senegal's exemplary response to the disease, certain strategic issues remain, including insufficient targeting of high-risk zones and groups, and limited use of testing and PMCT services.

Food security

The WFP reports that Senegal remains a low-income food deficit country. A recent Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) study found 46 percent of households are food insecure, with 20 percent considered highly food insecure. The Casamance region is particularly vulnerable due to conflict, and WFP estimates that more than 75 percent of households there are food insecure.

A majority of the population relies on agriculture for income, but as part of the semi-arid Sahel region of Africa, Senegal is vulnerable to drought and desertification. Crops have also been affected by pests such as locusts and whiteflies.

In the Casamance, landmines have forced many farmers to give up their fields for fear of injury.

According to WFP, the country only produces enough cereal to cover 35 percent of its requirements, and the balance must be imported.

Malnutrition rates remain high, particularly in rural areas where they are twice as high as in urban areas. According to UNICEF, 17 percent of children under five are underweight and 16 percent stunted. The WFP partly attributes high malnutrition levels to poor dietary habits, poor sanitation, low levels of literacy and inadequate awareness of nutrition among women.

Gender issues

The government-affiliated organisation Development Gateway Senegal noted that women in Senegal are marginalised, lack access to resources and social services, and do not participate sufficiently in politics and the workforce.

It added that the patriarchal socio-cultural environment allowed for the perpetuation of certain harmful practices, including child marriage, polygamy and excision. Although excision is illegal, UNICEF estimates that 28 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 49 had undergone the procedure, with some as young as one when it was performed.

The government also passed laws against domestic violence, rape and assault but these are rarely enforced. The US State Department reported that domestic violence was widespread and the Committee to Combat Violence Against Women found that women were reluctant to report abuses or press charges due to fear of being shunned by family members, being destitute and also due to the non-existence of shelters that could offer a safe environment.

At the political level, the UN Population Fund reported that 19.2 percent of seats in parliament were held by women.

According to the agency Women in Development and Law in Africa, obstacles to strengthening women's rights in Senegal include lack of awareness amongst women about their rights, lack of commitment on the part of the government, social and economic pressures placed on women, the slow pace of legal proceedings and a fear of the courtroom.

Human rights

Senegal's approaching elections have had a negative impact on democratic rights in the country. Legislative elections have already been postponed twice, former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck was arbitrarily arrested, and opposition parties have been prevented from staging demonstrations.

Amnesty International noted that despite public commitments by the authorities to end impunity for human rights perpetrators, no assertive action had been taken. It also observed that parliament passed a law that provides amnesty for 'politically motivated' offences committed between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 2004.

In 2006, Senegal agreed to a request by the African Union to prosecute former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre for human rights crimes committed during his time in office. Habre has been in Senegal since 1990 after being deposed in Chad. In 2005, a Belgian court issued a warrant for his arrest and extradition, and although Senegalese authorities arrested him, they refused extradition and asked the African Union to determine jurisdiction for the trial. Human Rights Watch has criticised Senegal on its slow progress in getting the trial off the ground. Senegalese officials have said Habre will not be tried for another three years.

According to the US State Department, other human rights issues include unlawful killings by security forces, overcrowded prisons and cruel treatment of prisoners, corruption and impunity, and restrictions on freedom of assembly.

It has also pointed out that the country made progress in addressing human trafficking by passing an anti-trafficking statute and signing a bilateral agreement with nine other West African nations. The Trafficking in Persons report for 2006 found that there had not been any prosecutions under the new law and that the government did not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Humanitarian needs

CREDIT : IRIN - United Nations Office – Humanitarian Country Profile