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Senegal, Africa

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Geography

  • Area: 122,237 square miles; slightly smaller than South Dakota
  • Capital: Dakar
  • Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind.
  • Features: Senegal is the westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal.

 

Current Environmental Issues

Wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing.

 

People

  • Nationality: Senegalese
  • Population: 12,643,799 (July 2011)
  • Urban Population: 42% of the population (2010)
  • Primary ethnic groups: Wolof 43%, Pular 23%, Serer 15%, Jola 3%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9%
  • Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), animistic or indigenous beliefs 1%
  • Languages: French is the official language, Wolof, Pulaar, Jola and Mandika are indigenous languages spoken.
  • Literacy rate (age 15 and older) : 39% (Male: 51%/Female: 29%)
  • School Life Expectancy: 8 years
  • Infant mortality rate: 56/1,000 live births
  • Life expectancy: 60 years (Male: 58/Female 62) (2011 est.)
  • HIV/AIDS: 59,000 people living with HIV/AIDS; ranking 57th in the world, approximately 0.05% of the total Senegalese population. (U.S.A is #10 with 1.2 million)(2009 est.)

 

Government & Economy

  • Independence: April 4, 1960 (from France)
  • Number of registered political parties: 73
  • Flag Description: Green represents Islam, progress, and hope; yellow signifies natural wealth and progress; red symbolizes sacrifice and determination; the star denotes unity and hope.
  • Natural resources: fish, peanuts, phosphate, iron ore, gold, titanium, oil and gas, cotton
  • Average annual income per person: $1,900 (2010 est.)
  • Unemployment Rate: 48% (2007 est.)
  • Population Below Poverty Line: 54% (2001 est.)

 

Transnational Issues

The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem separatist violence, cross border raids, and arms smuggling into their countries from Senegal’s Casamance region, and in 2006, respectively accepted 6, 000 and 10,000 Casamance residentsfleeing the conflict; 2,500 Guinea-Bissau residents fled into Senegal in 2006 to escape armed confrontations along theborder.

  • Refugees (countries of origin): 19,630 (Mauritania)
  • IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons): 22,400 (approximately 65% of the IDP population returned in 2005, but new displacement is occurring due to clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2007)

 

Culture

Food: The basic food is rice cooked with a spicy sauce and vegetables. Some popular Senegalese dishes are:

Chep-bu-jen- The Wolof word for rice with fish

Yassa- chicken or fish marinated in lemon juice, pepper, and onions and then baked accompanied by white rice

Mafé, Domada and Soupe Kandja- sauces made from okra with fish and palm oil

On ceremonial occasions, festive meals that include roasted or grilled meat with beans or French fries are eaten.

Couscous (steamed millet) with vegetables, mutton, and gravy is a ceremonial dish.

 

Music: see youtube.com and visit  http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com