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The Republic of Senegal is located on
the west African coast with Mauritania to its north, Mali to
its east and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to its south; it also completely
surrounds Gambia. With its
population of 16.74 million (2020), Senegal is one of the jewels in the crown
of Africa insofar as despite its poverty it offers a model of democratic
stability. The area now known as Senegal was inhabited in prehistoric times according to
archaeological finds. It was once part of the Ghana Empire and, like so much of
Africa, became a place of trade with European countries with France infiltrating
the Senegal mainland by the 1850s having previously owned the off shore island
of Goree, a major slave trading point for the
transport of slaves between Africa and the New World peaking in the 18th Century.
In 1959 the French Sudan
and Senegal merged into the Mali Federation which went on to achieve
independence in 1960. However this arrangement was short lived with the French Sudan breaking away to
form the Republic of Mali, and Senegal reverting to its former name the same
year. In 1982 Senegal formed another brief confederation with the
Gambia to form Senegambia however seven years later this to was dissolved. Following peaceful elections in 2000 the rule of the
Socialist Party came to an end ushering in a new period of multi-party politics, and today Senegal is widely seen as a relatively stable nation however remains in 168th
place out of 189 countries and territories in 2019 when ranked in terms of
life expectancy, literacy, access to knowledge and the living standards of a
country.
Senegal still faces many challenges from increasing desertification in the
north, widespread poverty reaching 75% in rural areas, many of the country's
young leaving to seek employment elsewhere particularly Europe, poor healthcare
and educational provision and the ongoing conflict in Casamance region in the
south of the country where there is a strong separatist movement. Despite significant economic growth of late, Senegal has a high rate of unempoyment particularly among young people who end up unemployed or in the informal job sector where wages are low. Nearly one third of Senegal's working population are engaged in agriculture, and significantly higher in rural areas. Others are engaged in phosphate mining, fertilizer production and commercial fishing.
Senegal is also noted for the issue of its talibe street children
who are sent to Koranic schools but who spend most of their time begging on the streets of urban areas such as
Dakar, then face a harsh regime on their return to school if they have failed to
collect enough. Whilst the government has signed up to and is committed to all
aspects of international conventions of the rights of children, this practise is
deeply embedded within Senegal's culture. On the profile pages
below you can check out all about Senegal, its people, history and
culture in greater depth.
Senegal Profile: Senegal History
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Senegal Profile: Life in Senegal
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Life in Senegal: Senegal Culture
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Senegal Profile: Children in Senegal
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Senegal Profile: Dakar Profile
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Senegal Profile: Senegal Images
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Senegal Profile: Child Sponsor Senegal
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