Senegal

Republic of Senegal République du Sénégal  (French)
Motto: "Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi" (French) "One People, One Goal, One Faith"
Anthem:  Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons Everyone strum your koras, strike the balafons
Location of  Senegal  (dark blue) – in Africa  (light blue & dark grey) – in the African Union  (light blue)
Capital (and largest city)		Dakar 14°40′N 17°25′W
Official language(s)		French
Recognised regional languages		Wolof Soninke Serer Fula Maninka Diola
Ethnic groups (0.4em)		43.3% Wolof 23.8% Fula 14.7% Serer 3.7% Jola 3.0% Mandinka 1.1% Soninke 1.0% European / Lebanese 9.4% others
Demonym		Senegalese
Government		Semi-presidential republic
-	President	Macky Sall
-	Prime Minister	Abdoul Mbaye
Legislature		Parliament
-	Upper House	Senate
-	Lower House	National Assembly
Independence
-	from Francea	20 June 1960
-	Withdrawal from the Mali Federation	20 August 1960
Area
-	Total	196,723 km2 (87th) 76,000 sq mi
-	Water (%)	2.1
Population
-	2011 estimate	12,855,153 (67th)
-	2002 census	9,967,299
-	Density	65.3/km2 (134th) 169.1/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2011 estimate
-	Total	$25.152 billion
-	Per capita	$1,871
GDP (nominal)		2011 estimate
-	Total	$14.461 billion
-	Per capita	$1,075
Gini (1995)		41.3
HDI (2010)		0.459 (155th)
Currency		CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone		UTC
Drives on the		right
Internet TLD		.sn
Calling code		+221

The Republic of Senegal (French République du Sénégal) is a nation in West Africa. The capital is Dakar.

• Language: French, Wolof (language of the Wolof ethnic group 43.3% of the population)
• Area: 196,723 km²
• Population: 11,126,832
• Population density: 52 /km²
• President: Macky Sall
• Currency: 1 CFR-Franc = 100 Centimes (c)

Geography

In the north of Senegal is the Senegal River. To the north of the river is Mauritania. The nation borders Mali in the east, Guinea-Bissau in the south, and Guinea in the south-east. The Gambia is another country inside of Senegal, along the Gambia River. It is about 300 km long.

The north of Senegal is part of the Sahel. The highest mountain is 581 m high. The rainy season is between June and October. The average temperature on the coast is about 24° C, and inland about 27° C.

Regions:

• Dakar
• Diourbel
• Fatick
• Kaolack
• Kolda
• Louga
• Matam
• Saint-Louis
• Tambacounda
• Thiès
• Ziguinchor

History

In the 15th century, Portuguese people came to Gorée Island off the coast of Dakar. In the 17th century, French people and Dutch people came there, too. These European countries used the island as a trading post in slaves from the mainland, controlled by the Muslim Wolof Empires. Slavery was later made illegal by France, but soon after, around 1850, the French started to conquer the Wolof. By 1902 Senegal was a part of the French colony French West Africa.

In January 1959, Senegal and the French Sudan became one to form the Mali Federation, which became fully independent on June 20, 1960, as a result of the independence and transfer of power agreement signed with France on April 4, 1960. This did not last long and Senegal and Mali broke apart into separate nations. Between 1982 and 1989 Senegal and The Gambia joined together to make Senegambia.