Background:Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982.Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.
Location:Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 14 00 W
Area: 196,190 sq km
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Coastline: 531 km
Population: 10,852,147 (July 2004 est.)
Ethnic groups: Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Economy:In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. 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 5% annually during 1995-2002. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff. On the negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems of chronic unemployment, trade union militancy, juvenile delinquency, and drug addictio
Conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital: Dakar
Administrative divisions:10 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga,Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
note: there may be another region called Matam
Independence: 4 April 1960 (from France)
Legal system:based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Religions:Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
