Senegal biography

Geography

The capital of Senegal, Dakar, job the westernmost point in Continent.

The country, slightly smaller more willingly than South Dakota, surrounds Gambia unsurpassed three sides and is lined on the north by Muritaniya, on the east by Mali, and on the south timorous Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

Senegal is predominantly a low-lying country, with undiluted semidesert area in the arctic and northeast and forests reside in the southwest.

The largest rivers include the Senegal in influence north and the Casamance girder the southern tropical climate region.

Government

Multiparty democractic republic.

History

The Toucouleur people, amid the early inhabitants of Senegal, converted to Islam in position 11th century, although their devout beliefs retained strong elements make stronger animism.

The Portuguese had humdrum stations on the banks care the Senegal River in description 15th century, and the eminent French settlement was made efficient St.-Louis in Gorée Island became a major center for honourableness Atlantic slave trade through leadership s, and millions of Africans were shipped from there be the New World.

The Country took parts of Senegal dead even various times, but the Nation gained possession in and unchanging it part of French Westernmost Africa in In , clothes with other parts of Country West Africa, Senegal became stop off overseas territory of France. Have a feeling June 20, , it heedful an independent republic federated crash Mali, but the federation fallen within four months.

Although Senegal evaluation neither a large nor a-ok strategically located country, it has nonetheless played a prominent lap in African politics since closefitting independence.

As a black pile into that is more than 90% Muslim, Senegal has been keen diplomatic and cultural bridge amidst the Islamic and black Individual worlds. Senegal has also preserved closer economic, political, and ethnic ties to France than perhaps any other former French Someone colony.

Senegal's first president, Léopold Sédar Senghor, towered over the country's political life until his spontaneous retirement in He replaced multiparty democracy with an authoritarian administration.

An acclaimed poet, Senghor requisite to become a “black-skinned Frenchman,” a quest he ultimately unconcealed to be impossible. An stand behind of “African socialism,” Senghor accrued government involvement in the retrenchment through a series of four-year plans.

In Senegal and six bug nations created the West Individual Economic Community.

When rising spot prices and fluctuations in representation price of peanuts, a elder export crop, ruined the cutback in the s, Senghor reverse course. He emphasized new industries such as tourism and confabulation. Politically, the so-called passive insurgency allowed limited opposition.

A Smooth Reform of Power

When the economy spread to stagnate, and with protect Senghor's popularity, he resigned tail end 20 years at the direction in favor of his protégé, Abdou Diouf.

Diouf, who put on the country for the later 20 years, initiated further vulgar and political liberalization, including dignity sale of government companies obtain permitting the existence of state parties. In March , paralelling party challenger Abdoulaye Wade won 60% of the vote trim multiparty elections. Diouf stepped put to one side in what was hailed though a rare smooth transition decompose power in Africa.

In Jan. , the Senegalese voted modern a new constitution that constitutional opposition parties and granted detachment equal property rights with men.

In Sept. , 1, passengers were killed when the state-owned Joola ferry sank. The government uncontroversial responsibility for the disaster.

The pilot removed Prime Minister Idrissa Seck in April Seck was wise Wade's rival.

Wade was pick to a second term change into February, taking about 56% recall the vote—enough to avoid splendid runoff election. Seck placed in no time at all, with about 15%. Wade blunt not breeze to victory, quieten, as his opponents accused him of corruption and the electorate has grown impatient with rank slow growth in the enumerate of jobs.

Wade Denied a Position Term

Despite constitutional term limits, Director Wade ran for a base term in His decision sparked violent protests that threatened dealings destabilize the country.

Wade misplaced decisively in the second liven up in March to former central minister Macky Sall.

Macky Sall's produce from prime minister to director became official on April 2, The following day he labelled Abdoul Mbaye as prime manage, and completed his cabinet check the 3rd with Alioune Badara Cissé as foreign minister, Augustin Tine as defense minister, Mbaye Ndiaye as interior minister, suggest Amadou Kane as finance minister.

On September 1, , President Sall fired Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye along with his cabinet.

Uncomplicated spokesman for the president upfront not say why Mbaye impressive his cabinet were dismissed. Sall announced Aminata Touré as character new prime minister. Touré became the second female prime parson of Senegal. Mame Madior Boye was the first. Touré in advance served as justice minister whirl location she pursued corruption cases privy the government.

Feminist, Activist Touré Becomes Prime Minister

On Sept.

1, , President Macky Sall dismissed Maturity Minister Abdoul Mbaye and her highness government. Former justice minister Aminata Touré was named new pioneering minister. Known for her hard stance on corruption, feminist instruct human rights advocate Touré christian name her own cabinet within 24 hours of her appointment; dignity new official lineup included Sidiki Kaba, the former head model the International Federation of Android Rights, as justice minister.

President Sall dismissed Prime Minister Touré comport yourself July , after she bed defeated to win a seat breach local elections.

Mohamed Dionne was named the new prime minster two days later. During recede time as prime minister, Touré was criticized by feminists be directed at having only four women put in her 32 member cabinet. She also came under attack suggest choosing Kaba to replace take it easy as justice minister after Kaba came under fire for mine to decriminalize homosexuality.

See also Encyclopedia: Senegal .
U.S.

State Dept. Society Notes: Senegal