During the colonial era, Senegal came initially under French control. From 1959-60 it was part of the Federation of Mali.
Foreign policy is dominated by relations with The Gambia, which Senegal surrounds.
During the 1980s these have fluctuated considerably, ranging from very close to rather cool. Links were at their closest following the 1981 coup attempt against the Jawara Government in The Gambia which was put down with the assistance of Senegalese troops. It was peacefully dissolved in 1989 after continual and unresolved arguments over trade. A period of extremely cold relations followed. There was little reaction in Dakar to the military coup in Gambia in July 1994 and the government has since forged good relations with the military regime.