Senegal

The **Republic of Senegal** (French _République da Sénégal_) is a country in West Africa. The capital is Dakar.
Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres. It has population of about 18 million. The climate is tropical with two seasons: the dry season and the rainy cold  season. Senegal was given independence by France in 1960.

Major industries are fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials, ship construction and repair. Peanuts, sugarcane, cotton, green beans, industrial tomato, cherry tomato, melon, and mango are important cash crops.

French is the official language. Since April 2012, Senegal's president has been Macky Sall.

## 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, and was 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.

## 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
- Kaffrine
- Kaolack
- Kédougou
- Kolda
- Louga
- Matam
- Saint-Louis
- Sédhiou
- Tambacounda
- Thiès
- Ziguinchor

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Republic of Senegal
- **common name**: Senegal
- **image flag**: Flag of Senegal.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of Senegal.svg
- **image map**: Senegal (orthographic projection).svg
- **national motto**:

- **national anthem**:

- **official languages**: French language , French
- **languages type**: National languages
- **languages2 type**: Lingua franca
- **ethnic groups year**: 2019
- **religion year**: 2019
- **demonym**: Senegalese
- **capital**: Dakar
- **largest city**: capital
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary Presidential system, presidential republic
- **leader title1**: List of Presidents of Senegal, President
- **leader name1**: Bassirou Diomaye Faye
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of Senegal, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Ousmane Sonko
- **leader title3**: List of Presidents of the National Assembly of Senegal, President of the National Assembly
- **leader name3**: Amadou Mame Diop
- **legislature**: National Assembly (Senegal), National Assembly
- **area rank**: 86th
- **area km2**: 196,722
- **area sq mi**: 75,955
- **percent water**: 2.1
- **population estimate**: 18,847,519
- **population estimate year**: 2024
- **population estimate rank**: 67th
- **gdp ppp**: $78.547 billion
- **gdp ppp rank**: 106th
- **gdp ppp year**: 2023
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $4,324
- **gdp ppp per capita rank**: 156th
- **gdp nominal rank**: 111th
- **gdp nominal**: $31.141 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2023
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $1,714
- **gdp nominal per capita rank**: 157th
- **established event1**: Republic established
- **established date1**: 25 November 1957
- **sovereignty type**: History of Senegal, Independence
- **established event2**: from France
- **established date2**: 4 April 1960
- **established event3**: Withdrawal from
the Mali Federation
- **established date3**: 20 August 1960
- **established event4**: from France
- **established date4**: 20 June 1960
- **established event5**: as Senegal
- **established date5**: 22 September 1960
- **established event6**: dissolution of the Senegambia Confederation
- **established date6**: 30 September 1989
- **gini year**: 2011
- **gini**: 40.3
- **hdi**: 0.517
- **hdi year**: 2022
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 169th
- **currency**: West African CFA franc
- **currency code**: XOF
- **time zone**: Greenwich Mean Time, GMT
- **date format**: dd/mm/yyyy
- **drives on**: right
- **calling code**: +221
- **cctld**: .sn
- **flag p1**: Flag of Mali (1959–1961).svg