1. general Presentation

Senegal lies on the Atlantic coast at the bulge of West Africa, on the confluence of Europe, Africa and the Americas, at the crossroads of great maritime and air routes.

 

With a land area of 196 722 km², it is bounded by Mauritania in the North, by Mali in the east, by Guinea and Guinea Bissau in the south, by Gambia in the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on its 500-km coastline. Dakar, the capital, is a situated at the most western part of the Cap Vert Peninsula.

 

1.1 The relief and hydrography

Senegal is a flat country with sablonous soils of no more than 130 m of altitude except for the south-western frontiers towards Guinea. Three rivers drain the country from east to west: The Senegal (1700 km) north, the Gambia (750 km) and the Casamance (300 km) south.

1.2 The climate and vegetation 

 

The country’s dry tropical climate has two well-defined seasons: a dry season going from November to June and a rainy season starting from July through October.  The country has three main types of vegetation: the forest down south, the savannah in the centre and the steppe up north.

1.3 The population

 

 Senegal supported a population of 9.8 million inhabitants in 2001 and an average density of 48 inhabitants per km2. Over 25% of the population is concentrated in the region of Dakar. The other pole of high density is the centre (the groundnut basin) with more than 35 % of the total population. The east of the country is lowly populated.

 

Senegal has about twenty ethnic groups mainly including the Wolof (43 %), the Pulaar (24 %), and the Serer (15 %). Foreigners account for about 2% of the population. They are especially based in the capital Dakar where they are engaged in trade, industry, services and international organisations. Others, namely nationals of neighbouring countries are also present in the north and south. Here are the main characteristics of the population in 2001:

 

 

1.4 Political organisation

Senegal is a laic state which became independent since 1960. The political regime is presidential and pluralist with a president elected by universal suffrage for a five-year term. Incumbent President Abdoulaye WADE who was elected on 19 March 2000 is currently on his first term. Parliament consists of 120 members also elected for five years.