Senegal

This Page was last updated on the 2nd March, 2007.

 

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The presidential election took place in Senegal on 25th February. President Abdulaye Wade has been officially declared the outright winner. His party had claimed victory well before the Electoral Commission made its declaration on 1st March 2007. He has won 55.86% of the vote, making him the outright winner with no need for a second round. The result needds to be confirmed by the Counstitutional Council. Two candidates, Abdulaye Bathily and Ousmane Tanor Dieng had declared that they did not accept provisional results. Opposition figures say they can prove fraud took place during the election, although the regional economic body, ECOWAS, has declared the election free and fair overall. A massive campaign was conducted by incumbant President Wade's supporters. Sporadic incidents of hooliganism marred the campaign but not the post-election period. Prime Minister Idrissa Seck gained 14.93% of the popular vote and Ousmane Tanor Dieng won 13.57%.

From Dakar, Fides Service, the missionary news service of the Catholic Church reported:

“The elections will reveal the vitality of the country’s democratic system” said local Church sources in Dakar capital of Senegal, where a first round of presidential elections will be held on Sunday 25 February (see Fides 15/2/2007). “The recent clashes between demonstrators of opposing factions were a concerning sign that democratic life is degenerating” Fides learned from a missionary who asked not to be named. On Wednesday 21 there were clashes between supporters of outgoing president Abdoulaye Wade and supporters of the other candidate former prime minister Idrissa Seck. The supporters of president Wade belong to a powerful Islamic association Mouride led by Cheikh Bethio Thioune one of the president’s allies.
“For some years Senegal was a beacon of democracy for the rest of Africa. In fact people in other African countries would shout ‘Senegal’ when calling for free, democratic elections. Senegal was synonymous for democracy” the sources told Fides. “Elections held in 2000 were an example for the whole continent. The head of state at the time Abdou Diouf, lost the election and despite pressure from the army which was ready to support him if he chose to reject the will of the people, he accepted the results and stepped down”.
“Things have changed since 2000” the missionary told Fides. “The president who is running for a second mandate has a different style. He appears more of a centralizer and his supporters stage street clashes to impose their reasons. Now we must see how this behaviour affects the country’s democratic tissue. However the Senegalese are known to reject violence and to solve problems with dialogue. In fact the recent clashes were repelled by most people”.
With regard to the outcome of the vote according to Fides’ sources it is difficult to say “President Wade centred his electoral campaign on national development and a launched a vast programme of public projects with Dakar as the showcase. However in the interior of the country poverty has increased and infrastructures are scarce. Certainly the people are impressed by these enormous work-sites but I am not sure whether they know if these projects will improve living conditions or not”.
There are 15 candidates for presidency. The outgoing President is almost bound to win because the opposition appears weak and divided. “However the Opposition leaders have said that if the president is re-elected in the first round they will demand an investigation to ascertain the correctness of the election. “There have been rumours, probably unfounded, of a telephone black-out to prevent the press from reporting election results from the interior. We all hope that the people of Senegal are truly democrats and that there will be no degeneration of political life in an authoritarian sense” the sources concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/2/2007 righe 44 parole 539)

Official Name

Republic of Senegal
Former Name French Soudan, Mali Federation, Senegambia, Senegal (inhabited in prehistoric times; Islam established in Senegal River valley in 11th century; under influence of Mandingo empires in east, and Jolof Empire of Senegal founded during the 13th and 14th centuries; Soudan and Senegal left French Soudan [‘Republique Soudanaise’] to form the Mali Federation in January 1959; became fully independent within the French Community on 20 June 1960; federation collapsed when Senegal seceded on 20 August 1960; Senegal and Soudan [Republic of Mali] proclaimed independence, and Leopold Sedar Senghor elected Senegal's first president in August 1960; attempted coup by Prime Minister Dia in December 1962; Dia was arrested and imprisoned; Senghor retired [1980] and handed over power to Abdou Diouf in 1981-2000; Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982-89.)

Capital

Dakar

Main Towns

Dakar, Diourbel, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Rufisque, Saint Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor

Subdivisions

11 regions: Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor

Independence

4 April 1960 (from France, complete independence achieved on dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960)
Constitution a new constitution was adopted 7 January 2001
National Holiday Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

UN Membership

28 September 1960

OAU Membership

25 May 1963 – now African Union (AU)

Commonwealth

n/a

Other Organisations

In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Agency for the French-Speaking Community (ACCT), Africa-Caribbean-Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Franc Zone (FZ), Group of 15 (G-15), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Criminal Court (ICCt), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), UN Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH), United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM), United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), Universal Postal Union (UPU), West African Development Bank (WADB), West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), World Confederation of Labour (WCL), World Customs Organization (WCO, former Customs Cooperation Council [CCC]), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO), World Trade Organisation (WTrO).

Population

World Bank Figures: 9,287,000 (1999), 9,530,000 (2000), 9,768,000 (2001), 10,007,000 (2002), 10,239,848 (2003)
Other Sources: 9,007,080 (July 1995), 10,284,929 (July 2001 est.), 10,580,307 (July 2003 est.) 11,126,832 (July 2005 est.)

Area

75,951 sq. mls. (196,712 sq. kms.)

Density

37 per sq.km. (1995)

Highest Point

unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 1,906 ft. (581 m.)

Neighbours

Gambia (surrounds to West), Guinea (S), Guinea Bissau (SE), Mali (E), Mauritania (N)

Life Expectancy

50 years (1995), total population:  62.56 years, male:  60.94 years, female:  64.22 years (2001 est.)
total population: 56.37 years, male: 54.83 years, female: 57.95 years (2003 est.)
total population: 56.75 years male: 55.04 years female: 58.52 years (2005 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate total: 57.57 deaths/1,000 live births, female: 53.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), male: 61.34 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 55.51 deaths/1,000 live births male: 59.17 deaths/1,000 live births female: 51.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS

adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2001 est.) 0.8% (2003 est.)
people living with HIV/AIDS: 27,000 (2001 est.) 44,000 (2003 est.)
deaths: 2,500 (2001 est.) 3,500 (2003 est.)

IRIN Plus News - HIV/AIDS Treatment Map: Senegal - Updated: Sept 2004
Population: 9.8 million
HIV Prevalence Rate (%) 2003 End: 1.43
No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS: 80,000
No. Of People in need of ART: 8,000
No. Of People Currently On ART (Sep 04): 2,500
No. Of People on ART Public Sector: Not Defined
No. Of People on ART in Non Govt Programmes: Not Defined
No. Of People Exptd to be on ART (2005 End): 7,000
Front Line Drug Regimen: Nevirapine+Lamivudine+Stavudine
HIV/AIDS Treatment Sites: 20
Global Fund 2 Year Approved Funding (Round 1: approved 10-Feb-03): US$6,000,000.00
Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund: US$3,142,859.00
Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP): 30 million
Total Funds Disbursed By PEPFAR: Nil
Source: WHO, UNAIDS, Ministry of Health

Adult Literacy Rate

total population:  33.1%, male:  43%, female:  23.2% (1995 est)
total population: 40.2%, male: 50%, female: 30.7% (2003 est.)

Ethnic Groups

Wolof 43.3%, Pular (Fulani) 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, Toucouleur, Dioula, Malinke

Languages

French (official), Wolof, Pular, Jola, Mandinka

Religions

Muslim 94%, Traditional religions 1%, Christian 5% (mainly Roman Catholic)

Type of Government

Republic, multiparty democracy

President

Abdoulaye Wade (since 1 April 2000 [26/10/2005])

Prime Minister

Macky Sall (since 21 April 2004 [26/10/2005])

Political Parties

African Party for Democracy and Socialism (And Jef, also known as PADS/AJ); African Party of Independence; Alliance of Forces of Progress (AFP); Democratic and Patriotic Convention (CDP); Democratic League-Labor Party Movement (LD-MPT); Front for Socialism and Democracy (FSD); Gainde Centrist Bloc (BGC); Independence and Labor Party (PIT); National Democratic Rally (RND); Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS); Socialist Party (PS); SOPI Coalition (a coalition led by the PDS); Union for Democratic Renewal (URD).

Ruling Party

Coalition government led by Socialist Party (PS) and including Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS)

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA, XOF) Franc (100 centimes)
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

GDP

US$815 (1992) US$4,867m (1995)
GDP: US$4.9 billion (2002) GDP: US$7.4bn (2004)
purchasing power parity - US$18.36 billion (2004 est.)
per capita purchasing power parity - US$1,500 (2002 est.)
per capita purchasing power parity - US$1,700 (2004 est.)

GNP

US$760 (1992) US$600 (1995)

Per Capita Income Per capita GDP: US$700 (2003). In terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) US$1,510 (2002).
Population Below Poverty Line 54% (2001 est.)
Land Use arable land: 12.78% permanent crops: 0.21% other: 87.01% (2001) Irrigated land: 710 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural Resources Fish, peanuts, phosphate, iron ore, gold, titanium, oil and gas, cotton.
Oil and Natural Gas Oil production: 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
consumption: 31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
exports: NA (2001) imports: NA (2001)
Natural gas - production: 50 million cu m (2001 est.)
consumption: 50 million cu m (2001 est.)
exports: 0 cu m (2001 est.)imports: 0 cu m (2001 est.)
Pipelines: gas 564 km (2004)
Military Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,404,838 (2003 est.)
males age 18-49: 2,183,343 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: US$68.6 million, 1.4% of GDP (FY02) US$107.3 million, 1.5% of GDP (2004)
Economic Aid Received US$361 million from all sources, US$24.7 million from the U.S. (2000) US$362.6 million (2002 est.)
Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$58 (1999), US$44 (2000), US$42 (2001), US$44 (2002), US$44 (2003)

Debt

Moderately indebted (HIPC)
World Bank Figures: US$2,416,000,000 (2000), US$2,406,000,128 (2001), US$2,410,299,904 (2002), US$1,915,500,032 (2003)
Other Sources: US$3bn (early 1994) US$3,845m (1995) US$4.1bn (1998 est.) US$3.1 billion (2002 est.) US$3.476 billion (2004 est.)

Major Imports

foods and beverages, capital goods, fuels
food, consumer goods, petroleum, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, computer equipment (2002)

Imports from

France 27.4%, Nigeria 18.9%, Germany 5.3%, Italy 3.6%, US (2000)
France, Nigeria, Cameroon, United States (2002) US$1.85 billion (2002)
France 26.2%, Nigeria 12.1%, Thailand 5.3%, Belgium 5%, Spain 4.2% (2004) US$2.128 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Major Exports

fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
fish products, peanut products, phosphate products (2002)

Exports to

India 18.0%, France 15.6%, Italy 9.0%, Mali 5.9% (2000)
France, other European Union, West African CFA zone (2002) US$1.05 billion (2002)
India 13.8%, France 10.6%, Mali 10%, Italy 6%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.7%, Spain 4% (2004) US$1.374 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

We try to have each fact sheet up to date and as accurate as possible.
If you notice any mistakes, or have suggestions on items which could be added, please let us know by emailing to: suttonlink@dial.pipex.com

The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 2 March, 2007

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