Senegal

= SENEGAL = = History = Historically Black Africans have lived in the area now called Senegal Great empires and independent kingdoms existed in the area from 300 AD to the 19th century. Islamic merchants from North America introduced Islam to the animistic people of the area in the 10th sectury. Portuguese sailors first traded with the people in the mid-1400's but were replaced by the French, English, and Dutch in the 1500's. Several million west Africans were shipped to the Americas as slaves between the 16th and 19th centuries. Many were sold at an auction house that still stands on Goree Island, near the capital of Senegal, Dakar.

= Country and Development Data =  Capital**:** Dakar Location: Western Africa Borders: Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Gambia. Population**:** 12,853,259 (rank-68) Area, sq. mi**:** 75,749 (rank-85) Adult literacy rate**:** male**-** 51% **;** female**-** 29% Infant mortality rate**:** 77 per 1,000 births Life expectancy**:** male- 60 **;** female**-** 64 Currency**:** CFA franc - per us dollar: 447.81

= FLAG = Senegals flag was most recently adopted on 20 August, 1960. It consists of Ethiopia's pan-African colors. Green symbolizes the abundance of land, yellow the sun, and red the sacrifice and power. The five points of the star show Senegal's openness to the world, and each point representing a continent.

= Land and Climate = Most of the country north of The Gambia is flat, with rolling plains, and a few trees. The southeast has plateaus with elevations over 1,600 ft. The southwest features forests and seasonally flooded lowlands. Much of Senegal is subject to drought, overgrazing, and deforestation. Senegal uses their land for arable land, permanent crops, and other uses. Senegal has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round. From about July to September, the hot humid rainy season, temperatures regulary reach about 95°F. Temperatures moderate during the dry season, December to April, with highs around 80°F. = = = Goverment = type: republic leader: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)  suffrage: 18 years of age; universal military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP = Economy = GDP per capita - $1,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 $1,600 (2007 est.) $1,600 (2006 est.) Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining; iron ore, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair. Unemployment rate: 48%

OVERVIEW - In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's currency.After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging over 5% annually during 1995-2008. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the single digits.

= Agriculture Products = peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, cassava, cotton, rice, poultry, and vegetables = Imports & Exports - commodities = imports: food and beverages, capital goods, fules. exports: fish, peanuts, petroleum products, phosphates, cotton

= People = Religion: Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 1% Ethnic Groups: Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%,Mandinka 3%,Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%,other 9.4% Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka Population Growth Rate: 2.709% (country comparison to the world: 22) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write. total population: 39.3% male: 51.1% female: 29.2%

= Geography = terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore enviormental issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching, deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion,desertification, and overfishing.

= Internet  = Internet users: 820,000 Internet hosts: 217

= Timeline = **1960:** Sénégal gains independence from France after 300 years of French rule; Senghor becomes the first president.  **1963:** New constitution, giving president greater powers, is adopted.  **1970:** Office of Prime Minister is reinstated; post is given to Abdou Diouf  **1974:** Parti démocratique sénégalaise (PDS) political party is formed, led by Abdoulaye Wade **1981:** Diouf becomes president of Sénégal and secretary-general of PS.
 * 1980:** Senghor resigns the presidency. 
 * 1982:** Sénégal and Gambia form a political confederation.
 * 1988:** Elections cause severe political unrest; Diouf, who had again been reelected as president, pardons those arrested during the incident.
 * 1991:** Some political reforms are introduced, including reinstatement of post of prime minister and term limits on the presidency.
 * 2000:** Abdoulaye Wade, leader of PDS, is elected president, ending 40 years of Socialist Party rule.

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