Senegal facts for kids

Republic of Senegal République du Sénégal  (French)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi" (French) "One People, One Goal, One Faith"
Anthem: Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons Everyone strum your koras, strike the balafons
Location of  Senegal  (dark blue) – in Africa  (light blue & dark grey) – in the African Union  (light blue)
Capital and largest city	Dakar
Official languages	French
Recognised regional languages	Wolof Soninke Serer Fula Maninka Jola
Ethnic groups	43.3% Wolof 23.8% Fula 14.7% Serer 3.7% Jola 3.0% Mandinka 1.1% Soninke 1.0% European / Lebanese 9.4% others
Demonym(s)	Senegalese
Government	Semi-presidential republic
• President	Macky Sall
• Prime Minister	Mohammed Dionne
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate (disbanded)
• Lower house	National Assembly
Independence
• from Francea	20 June 1960
• Withdrawal from the Mali Federation	20 August 1960
Area
• Total	196,712 km2 (75,951 sq mi) (87th)
• Water (%)	2.1
Population
• 2013 estimate	13,567,338 (67th)
• 2013 census	13,508,715
• Density	68.7/km2 (177.9/sq mi) (134th)
GDP (PPP)	2012 estimate
• Total	$26.574 billion
• Per capita	$2,026
GDP (nominal)	2012 estimate
• Total	$13.864 billion
• Per capita	$1,057
Gini (2011)	40.3 medium
HDI (2013)	0.485 low · 163rd
Currency	CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone	UTC
Driving side	right
Calling code	+221
ISO 3166 code	SN
Internet TLD	.sn
With French Sudan, as the Mali Federation.

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 13 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, 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

Images for kids

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  Colonial Saint Louis c. 1900. Europeans and Africans on the Rue Lebon.

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  Macky Sall, President of Senegal (2012–present)

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  Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal (2000–2012)

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  Land mines were widely used in the Casamance conflict between separatist rebels and the central government.

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  Landscape of Casamance

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  Beach at N'Gor

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  A proportional representation of Senegal's exports.

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  Fishing boats in Dakar

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  Senegal's population from 1962 to 2004.

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  A street market in Malem-Hodar.

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  Aerial view of Yoff Commune, Dakar

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  The Great Mosque of Touba, home of the Mouride Sufi brotherhood, it is also one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in Africa.

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  The Dakar Cathedral.

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  Boys studying Quran, Touba

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  Students in Senegal

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  The African Renaissance Monument built in 2010 in Dakar is the tallest statue in Africa.

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  Kora player from Senegal

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  Painting of footballer El-Hadji Diouf in Dakar