The state of Senegal is located in West Africa, adjacent to Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south. In the north there is the border with Mauritania, in the east with Mali. The western territories are washed by the Atlantic Ocean. In the center of the country is the state of Gambia. The capital of Senegal is the city of Dakar.
Population of Senegal
The country is home to more than 10 million people, of which 37% are Wolof, 17% Serer, 17% Fulani, 9% Maldigo, 9% Toucouleur.
Nature of Senegal
In the northern desert lands only shrubs and grass grow, in the south there are dense forests with teak trees, palm trees and bamboo. In Senegal there are lions, cheetahs, elephants, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles and a huge number of species of snakes.
Climate conditions of Senegal
In the north of the country the climate is predominantly dry, subequatorial, in the south it is tropical, with frequent rains. The average temperature is about +23...25°C, winds from the Sahara often bring sandstorms.
Language of Senegal
The official language in the country is French, many speak English. The local population speaks numerous dialects.
Kitchen
Rice is always used in traditional Senegalese cuisine. It can serve as a side dish, can be an ingredient for preparing a hearty holiday dish, or can be present in a sweet fruit dessert. Local chefs prepare unusual and exotic sauces from onions, garlic and vegetables. They are generously poured over meat delicacies or porridges, giving the dishes a unique original taste.
Religion
In Senegal, 92% of Muslims are Sunnis, about 3% of Christians are Catholics, and just over 5% are adherents of African beliefs.
Holidays in Senegal
August 23 is Senegal's Riflemen's Day. April 4 is Independence Day in Senegal, February 1 is Confederation Day.
Currency
The monetary unit of Senegal is the CFA franc BCEA (code XOF).
Time
In time, Senegal is 4 hours behind Moscow.
Main resorts of Senegal
Of all the countries in the West African region, Senegal has the most developed tourism infrastructure. In large cities and resort centers there are not only large comfortable hotels, but also small private hotels with a cozy homely atmosphere. The Petit Cote resort is famous for its always sunny weather and calm ocean; its pearl beaches, clear water and picturesque landscapes have been attracting European tourists for many years. Nearby is the Sali resort, where guests are offered a rich entertainment program. Those interested can go surfing or water skiing, fishermen are guaranteed a rich catch, and safaris are organized for those interested. Skiring is most developed as an ultra-modern resort with a range of fashionable procedures and unobtrusive service. Saint-Louis offers a wonderful beach holiday surrounded by stunning African nature.
Sights of Senegal
Dakar is famous for its numerous museums with excellent exhibitions, the Maritime, Historical and Museums of Black People of Africa and African Art are especially popular. The Great Mosque or Grande Mosque and the Presidential Palace, the Town Hall are the most beautiful buildings in the city. Colorful local markets, lighthouses on the coast, equipped beaches - all this makes Dakar an attractive recreation center for tourists.
From a tourist point of view, the cities of Saint-Louis, Thies, Ziguinchor and Kaolack, and the island of Goree are also interesting.
A natural wonder of Senegal is the Pink Lake (Retba), so named because of its special color. The lake water has such a high concentration of salt that only one microorganism can live in it - a bacterium that produces a bright pink pigment. From Dakar to the lake – 30 km.
Nearby is a turtle reserve, a place especially loved by tourists with children. Ancient burials with tombstones in the form of stone rings found in Senegal are included in the UNESCO Heritage of Humanity list and represent an incredible mystical spectacle. The Niokolo-Koba Biosphere Reserve is carefully protected by the state; it is shown to tourists with extreme caution, since the rarest species of birds and unique vegetation are saved here from extinction.
The content of the article
Republic of Senegal. State in West Africa. The capital is Dakar (1.7 million people - 2002). Territory – 196.7 thousand square meters. km. Administrative division: 11 regions. Population – 12 million 323 thousand 252 (estimate as of July 2010). The official language is French. Religion – Islam, Christianity and traditional African beliefs. The monetary unit is the African franc (CFA franc). National holiday - Independence Day (1960), April 4.
Geographical location and boundaries.
A continental state on the Atlantic coast. The length of the coastline is 531 km. It borders on the north with Mauritania, on the east with Mali, on the south with Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, and on the west with Gambia.
Nature.
Most of Senegal's territory is covered with savannah vegetation (acacias, baobabs, bearded vulture, elephant grass, bamboo, ronier palm, tamarind). There is an Arabian acacia that produces gum arabic resin. The northern regions represent the so-called zone. Sahel (desert savanna). In the southwestern part of the country, mixed deciduous-evergreen forests are preserved, in which acaja (mahogany), bavolnik, karite (butter tree), lianas, doum palm, and carob trees grow. Large animals include antelopes, cheetahs, hyenas, wild boars, leopards and jackals. Hares, monkeys, and many rodents are also common. The avifauna is diverse (storks, geese, vultures, bustards, cranes, waders, partridges, eagles, parrots, hornbills, ostriches, weaver birds, ducks, flamingos, guinea fowl), reptiles (including monitor lizards, cobras and pythons), as well as the world of insects (mosquitoes, tsetse flies, locusts, termites). There are six national parks. In coastal waters and rivers there is a lot of fish (sharks, dorado, mackerel, sea bass, sardinella, herring, catfish, tuna), octopus and crustacean mollusks.
Minerals - diamonds, bauxite, iron, gold, limestone, ilmenite, copper, marble, rock salt, oil, natural gas, rutile, titanium, peat, phosphates, zirconium.
Population.
The average population density is 62.6 people. per 1 sq. km. Its average annual growth is 2.48%. Birth rate – 37.27 per 1000 people, mortality – 9.5 per 1000 people. Infant mortality is 57.7 per 1000 births. 42.2% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents over 65 years of age – 3%. Life expectancy is 58.9 years (men – 57.48, women – 50.86). (All indicators are given in estimates for 2010). Purchasing power of the population in 2009 – 1900 US dollars.
Senegal is a multi-ethnic state. More than 90% of the population – African peoples: Wolof (43.3%), Pular (23.8%), Serer (14.7%), Diola (3.7%), Malinke (3%), Soninke (or Sarakol - 1.1%), Fulbe and Toucouleur. Several percent of the population are Arabs, Europeans (mainly French living in Dakar) and Moors. The southern regions (Casamance) are the most ethnically diverse. Among the local languages, the most common languages are those of the Wolof, Fulbe, Serer, Soninke, Malinke and Diola peoples.
In 1982, in Casamance, where the majority of the population is Diola Catholics, armed uprisings by separatists demanding autonomy began and continued until December 2004. These protests were led by the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MDCC), created on an ethno-confessional basis. The President of the DDSC is Abbot D. Senghor, General. sec. – J.M.F.Biagi (2005).
Senegal has a high rate of urbanization, with the urban population accounting for more than 42% (2004). Large cities - Thies (228 thousand people), Kaolack (199 thousand people), Ziguinchor (180.5 thousand people) and Saint-Louis (132.4 thousand people) - 1996.
There has been labor migration of Senegalese to Gabon, Gambia and Côte d'Ivoire. Since the early 2000s, Senegal (along with Nigeria and the DRC) has been one of the first places in Africa in terms of the number of emigrants and refugees to the countries of the European Union.
Religions.
Senegal is one of the most Islamized states on the African continent. Muslims (profess Sunni Islam) make up approx. 90% of the population are Christians (the majority profess Catholicism) - 5%, approx. 5% (mostly residents of the southern regions) adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.) - 2003. There are also a small number of adherents of Baha’ism.
The penetration of Islam began in the first half. 11th century during the period of existence of the state formation Tekrur on the territory of Senegal. It became the first country in West Africa to undergo Islamization. The Sufi orders (tarikat) of Tijaniyya, Muridiyya and Qadiriya are especially influential among Senegalese Muslims. The spread of Christianity began in the 17th century. Senegal is characterized by religious tolerance.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
State structure.
Presidential republic. There is a constitution in force, approved by a national referendum on January 7, 2001. The head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the president, who is elected through direct general elections (by secret ballot) for a 5-year term. The President can be elected to this post no more than two times. Legislative power is exercised by the parliament (National Assembly), which consists of 120 deputies (65 of them are elected by territorial constituencies, 55 by party lists). Members of Parliament are elected by direct general elections by secret ballot. His term of office is 5 years; it can be dissolved by the president no earlier than 2 years after the parliamentary elections.
State flag. A rectangular panel consisting of three vertical stripes of the same size in green (at the shaft), yellow and red. In the center of the yellow stripe there is an image of a green five-pointed star.
Administrative device.
The country is divided into 11 regions, which consist of departments.
Judicial system.
Based on the principles of French civil law. There are the Constitutional and State Councils, as well as the Court of Cassation, which regulates the activities of the courts and tribunals subordinate to it.
Armed forces and defense.
The national armed forces number 9.4 thousand people. (ground forces - 8 thousand people, air force - 800 people and naval forces - 600 people). Paramilitary gendarmerie forces - 5.8 thousand people. (Data as of 2002). Military service (2 years) is carried out by conscription. France and the United States provide logistical assistance in equipping and training the armed forces. In 1996, with the help of France, a military training center was opened in Thies, where officers from 13 countries of the subregion (Benin, Gabon, Guinea, Congo, etc.) are trained. There is a contingent of French armed forces on the territory of the country numbering 1,150 people. (2002). In June 2005, units of the Senegalese armed forces (along with troops from the United States, Algeria, Mauritania, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia and Chad) took part in military maneuvers in the Sahara Desert, codenamed Flintlock 2005. The operational headquarters of the maneuvers was located in Dakar. Defense expenditures in 2004 amounted to $107.3 million (1.5% of GDP).
Foreign policy.
It is based on the policy of non-alignment. The main foreign policy partner is France. Senegal maintains good neighborly relations with Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, incl. within the framework of the Organization for the Efficient Use of Resources of the Gambia. Relations between Senegal and the Gambia are complicated due to the smuggling of industrial goods through the Gambian territory (there are lower customs duties on many imported goods), as well as due to the influx of a large number of Senegalese refugees who moved to the Gambia at the end. 1990s as a result of the Casamance conflict. Until 2005, a program of cooperation with Taiwan, recognized by Senegal in 1996, was successfully implemented. In 1996–2005, Taiwan allocated approx. $150 million. In the beginning. November 2005 Senegal terminated diplomatic relations with Taiwan and resumed them with the PRC (they were severed in 1996 after Senegal recognized Taiwan).
Representatives of Senegal (diplomats, political scientists, lawyers and economists) have repeatedly held high positions in the UN, UNESCO and other international organizations.
Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Senegal were established on June 14, 1962 (the first government delegation of the USSR visited Senegal back in 1961). Bilateral cooperation was carried out in the field of trade and economic relations (including in 1970–1973, the USSR built 10 tuna trawlers for Senegal), scientific and technical (geological exploration, scientific exchange) and cultural cooperation, as well as in the field of medicine and assistance in training national personnel for Senegal. In December 1991, the Russian Federation was recognized as the legal successor of the USSR. The resumption of Russian-Senegalese ties began on Tuesday. floor. 1990s Senegal was visited by a delegation of the State Duma of the Russian Federation (1996), Russian Foreign Minister E.M. Primakov (1997), and Chairman of the Federation Council E.S. Stroev (2000). In May 2000, consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the Russian Federation and Senegal took place in Dakar; work is underway to update the legal framework of bilateral relations. Since 1997, a Russian trade mission has been operating in Dakar. In 1997, the first exhibition-fair “Days of Russian Regions in West Africa” was held in Senegal, and in 1998, at the next fair of Russian goods, approx. 100 enterprises of the Russian Federation. Russian KAMAZ at the end. 1990s - early In the 2000s, he won the Paris-Dakar rally several times. In January 2005, the KAMAZ team from Naberezhnye Chelny (Russian Federation) once again won 1st place in the truck class in the annual Barcelona-Dakar rally. Until 2003, 624 Senegalese received higher education at universities in the USSR and Russia; in 2004, 35 students from Senegal studied at Russian universities.
Political organizations.
A multi-party system has developed in the country (about 40 political parties and associations – 2004). The most influential of them:
– « Senegalese Democratic Party», SDP(Parti démocratique sénégalais, PDS), gene. sec. – Abdoulaye Wade, Deputy Secretary General – Idrissa Seck. Ruling party, main in 1974;
– « Movement for Socialism and Unity», DSE(Mouvement pour le socialisme et l "unité, MSU), Secretary General - Ndiaye Bamba (Bamba N" Diaye). Party created in 1981 as the “Democratic People's Movement”, received its current name in 2001;
– « Democratic League - Movement for the creation of the Labor Party», DL – DSPT(Ligue démocratique – Mouvement pour le parti du travail, LD – MPT), gene. sec. – Abdoulaye Bathili. Main party in 1981 as a result of the split of the African Party for the Independence of Senegal, main. in 1957;
– « National Democratic Rally», NDO(Rassemblement national démocratique, RND), gen. sec. – Diouf Madior (Madior Diouf). Party created in 1976, until 1981 it operated illegally;
– « Independence and Labor Party», PNT(Parti de l "indépendance et du travail, PIT), General Secretary - Dansokho Amat. Founded in August 1981 on the basis of the African Independence Party of Senegal;
– « Socialist Party of Senegal», THX(Parti socialiste du Sénégal, PS), the chair is vacant, will act. Secretary - Dieng Ousmane Tanor Dieng. Created in 1948 as the “Senegalese Democratic Bloc”, in 1958–1976 it was called the “Progressive Union of Senegal”;
– « Union for Democratic Renewal», FROM TO(Union pour le renouveau démocratique, URD), leader - Djibo Laity Ka. Main party in 1998 as a result of the split of the Socialist Party of Senegal.
Trade union associations - “National Confederation of Workers of Senegal”, CNTS (Confédération Nationale des Travailleurs du Sénégal, CNTS). Secretary General: Modi Guiro. Created in 1969, unites 120 thousand members, is under the influence of the Socialist Party of Senegal.
ECONOMY
Senegal belongs to the group of least developed countries. The basis of the economy is the agricultural sector. It is one of the steadily developing countries in West Africa. GDP per capita in 2005 (estimate) was US$961.
GDP is 18.36 billion US dollars, its annual growth averages 5–6%. The inflation rate is 0.8%, investment is 20.1% of GDP (data for 2004). 54% of the population is at the poverty level, unemployment is 48% (among urban youth - 40%) - data for 2001. In January 2005, strikes of transport workers took place throughout the country. Student protest marches also took place in Dakar, Thies, Kaolack, Saint-Louis, and other cities demanding solutions to social issues.
Financial assistance is provided by France, Saudi Arabia, India and Taiwan (after Senegal restored diplomatic relations with the PRC in early November 2005, Taiwan announced the termination of its assistance programs). Senegal's external debt is $3.92 billion (2002).
Labor resources.
Economically active population – 4.65 million people. (2004).
Agriculture.
The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 15%, it employs 70% of the economically active population (2009). 12.78% of land is cultivated (2001). The agricultural sector provides 1/3 of domestic food needs. The main export crops are peanuts (75% of all cultivated land is occupied by them) and mangoes. The main food crops are sweet potatoes, legumes, corn, cassava, millet, rice, sorghum and yams. Avocados, pineapples, bananas, melons, coconuts, vegetables, papaya, sugar cane, cotton and citrus fruits are also grown. Locusts cause significant damage to agriculture.
Since 1994, fishing has been developing dynamically (catch of shrimp, lobsters, mackerel, sardinella, sardines, tuna) and fish processing. European Union countries provide significant financial and technical assistance in the development of the industry. Fisheries account for 27% of Senegal's export earnings (2002). Livestock farming (breeding camels, goats, cattle, horses, sheep, donkeys and pigs) is a traditional sector of the economy, employing 20% of the population. Poultry farming is developed throughout Senegal.
Industry.
The share in GDP is 21.4%, it employs more than 10% of the economically active population (2009). There are more than 300 industrial enterprises. The main industries are mining, food, light and chemical. Diamond mining is underway iron ore, natural gas, peat and phosphates. The new mining and petroleum codes adopted in 1997–1998 contribute to the influx of foreign investment into the industry.
There are factories producing peanut butter, flour, beer, confectionery, sugar, concentrated milk and canned fish. There are several dozen textile and clothing enterprises. There is a shoe factory that also produces shoes for export. The chemical industry is developed (production of petroleum products, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, soap, perfumes and plastics). Construction materials are produced, primarily cement. Mechanical engineering: there is a large ship repair yard, car assembly plants, enterprises producing agricultural machinery and electrical equipment. Metal processing has been established - the production of containers, metal utensils and barrels.
International trade.
The volume of imports significantly exceeds the volume of exports: in 2004, imports (in US dollars) amounted to 2.13 billion, exports - 1.37 billion. The basis of imports is diesel fuel, machinery, equipment, food products, consumer goods and vehicles. The main import partners are France (24.8%), Nigeria (11.9%) and Thailand (6.1%) - 2004. The main export products are peanuts, peanut oil and cake, petroleum products, fish, sulfuric and phosphoric acids , phosphates and cotton. The main export partners are India (14.4%), Mali (13.1%), France (9.8%), Italy (7.3%), Spain (6.6%), Guinea-Bissau (5 .6%) and Gambia (4.8%) – 2004.
Energy.
The country fully meets its electricity needs. It is produced at six thermal power plants. Electricity production in 2002 was 1.74 billion kilowatt-hours. 30.4% of Senegal's territory has been electrified (in rural areas this figure is at 4%).
Transport.
Developed transport network. The main mode of transport is automobile. The total length of roads is 14.5 thousand km (with hard surfaces - 4.27 thousand km) - 2003. In the end. In the 1990s, Taiwan provided financial assistance ($47.6 million) for highway reconstruction. The first railway, Dakar–Thies–Saint-Louis, was built in 1882–1885. Total length railways is 1350 km (2004). Senegal's railway network is connected to the railways of Mali. The seaport of Dakar is one of the largest in the world and the second (after the port of Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire) most important transport hub on the west coast of the African continent. The length of the waterways (the Casamance, Saloum and Senegal rivers are navigable) is 1 thousand km. Trade the fleet consists of 190 ships (2002).There is an operating oil pipeline with a length of 564 km.There are 20 airports and runways (9 of them have a hard surface) - 2004.International airport - Dakar-Jof named after L. Senghor.
Finance and credit.
The monetary unit is the CFA franc (XOF), consisting of 100 centimes. (In addition to Senegal, the CFA franc - the African Financial Community franc - is the monetary unit of Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger and Togo.) In December 2004, the national currency rate was: 1 USD = 528.3 XOF.
Tourism.
Foreign tourists are attracted by the sandy beaches of the ocean coast, comfortable hotels, historical monuments associated with the era of the slave trade, as well as the original culture of local peoples. Tourism in Senegal is one of the most dynamically developing industries, which ranks second in terms of foreign exchange earnings. The tourism industry employs approx. 15.5% of the economically active population (2002). Business tourism is developing. Approximately people come to the country every year. 500 thousand foreign tourists. France provides significant financial assistance to Senegal in the development of its industry.
Attractions in Dakar: the presidential palace, the Museum of African Art, the Great Mosque in Medina, the Catholic Cathedral, the city market. Other attractions: forts of the 17th century, the Maritime Museum, the Slave House with slave cells (the listed objects are located on the island of Gore, located 4 km from Dakar), ancient religious buildings of 2–3 thousand BC. e. (near the city of Kaolak), a mosque with an 87-meter minaret in the city of Tuba (the spiritual center of the Muridiyya tariqa), as well as the Nyokolo-Koba and Dzhuj national parks (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List). The main national dish is fuck diene(rice with fish). Other Senegalese dishes: Yassa(chicken meat), dem in Saint Louisian(gefilte fish), Bassi-salte(couscous made from millet, lamb, vegetables, raisins, dates and crushed dry baobab leaves), mafe(stew).
The best time for a holiday in the sea resorts of Senegal (Les Almadies, Cap Skiring, Saly, etc.) is September-October. The first tourists from the USSR visited the country in the 1960s and 1970s. Many Russian travel agencies provide the opportunity to relax in Senegal.
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Education.
The first elementary school was opened in 1816, the first college in 1843.
Officially, 6 years of primary education are compulsory, and children begin at the age of seven. Secondary education (7 years) begins at the age of 13 and takes place in two stages - 4 and 3 years. In order to improve the level of education, in 1995 the government adopted a special plan until 2008. In 2005, 80% of children of the corresponding age attended primary and secondary schools (in 2000 - 66%). Less than 50% of children complete primary school.
The higher education system includes two universities - Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar (opened in 1949, received university status in 1957) and the University of Gaston-Berge in Saint-Louis (founded in 1990), - the Institute of Technology (G. Dakar), as well as 5 colleges located in the capital and Thies. In 2002, 874 teachers and 20 thousand students studied at five faculties of Cheikh Anta Diop University, and 89 teachers and 2,157 students at Gaston-Berge University. Both universities are under state control, the language of instruction is French. In 1996, work began on the creation of a Pan-African university in Sebikotan (near Dakar). Senegalese also receive higher education abroad, mainly in France, the USA and Canada. They work approx. 15 research institutes and scientific centers conducting research in the field of agronomy, veterinary medicine, fisheries resources, geology and medicine. The problem of “brain drain” from the country is acute. In 2003, 40.2% of the population was literate (50% of men and 30.7% of women).
Healthcare.
The AIDS incidence rate is 0.8% (2003). In 2003, there were 44 thousand people with AIDS and HIV-infected people, 3.5 thousand people died. Physicians are trained at the Faculty of Medicine at Cheikh Anta Diop University and abroad. According to the UN report on the humanitarian development of the planet, in 2001 Senegal was in 156th place in the ranking of countries.
Architecture.
There are several types of traditional dwellings among local peoples. IN western regions Square-shaped adobe huts are erected under a four-slope grass roof. In the east of the country, round dwellings made of woven branches, covered with a grass roof in the shape of a cone, as well as rectangular huts with awnings, are common. Residents of the south build mostly round, rectangular or square adobe houses, often using hand-rolled blocks of banco, a mixture of clay and straw, as the building material. There are also oval-shaped dwellings surrounded by a veranda. Their walls are decorated with paintings in red and blue.
A special layer of architecture is the construction of mosques. In modern cities, houses are built from brick and reinforced concrete structures. Business districts of cities are built up with multi-storey buildings.
Fine arts and crafts.
The origin of fine art on the territory of modern Senegal began BC: in massive sand mounds (8th–6th centuries BC, central regions), archaeologists discovered ceramics, weapons, as well as jewelry made of gold and metals. The Museum of the Fundamental Institute of Black Africa (Dakar, founded in 1936) has a rich collection of African traditional art.
Professional fine art has been developing since the 1950s. The School of Fine Arts opened in Dakar in 1972, where teachers who received art education in France, as well as the French ethnographer and artist P. Lauds, taught. Senegalese artists - Amadou Yero Ba, Papa Sidi Diop, Ibou Diouf, Ibrahim Ndiaye, Papa Ibra Tall. Exhibitions of Senegalese artists were held in Moscow in 1965, 1970 and 1975. The famous Senegalese artist and designer Oumou Sy has been taking part in a continental project to create the first African opera called “Sahel Opera” since 2004 - he is working on the decoration and costumes for the opera.
The most common crafts and arts are pottery, wood carving (making furniture and household utensils), tanning, weaving (ritual masks, brightly colored belts, bags and mats), as well as weaving, incl. carpet making. The jewelry industry is especially prominent; silver and gold items made by Wolof craftsmen are very popular.
Literature.
Based on the rich traditions of oral creativity (myths, songs, proverbs and fairy tales) of local peoples. Folklore is closely related to the art of griots ( common name professional storytellers and musicians-singers in West Africa). Modern Senegalese literature develops in French and the local languages of the Wolof, Diola, Malinke, Serer, Soninka and Fulani peoples.
First literary work- the story “Strength - Kindness” by Bakary Diallo, published in 1926. The formation of national literature is closely connected with the work of Leopold Sédar Senghor, one of the founders of the movement in the 1930s Negritude(proclamation of the identity and unity of Negro-African culture, the need to turn to the origins and study one’s own cultural values). Senghor began publishing in 1934 in Paris. The first collection of his poems - Songs in the Dusk– published in 1945. Participation in the French Resistance movement was reflected in Senghor’s lyrical and journalistic cycle Black victims(1948). His other works - collection Ethiopian motifs, poem Elegy to the Winds, a cycle of poems Autumn letters. Senghor's works have been published in many countries. In 2006 the 100th anniversary of the poet's birth will be celebrated. Other poets of Senegal are Amadou Moustapha Wade, Lamine Diakhate, Amadou Traoré Diop, David Diop, Ousmane Sembène (the first of the national writers to receive international recognition), Malik Fall.
The founder of Senegalese prose is Ousmane D. Sose. His first novel Karim, published in 1935. Senegalese writers - Nafissatou Diallo, Birago Diop, Sheikh Hamidou Kana, Abdoulaye Saji, Ousmane Sembène, Aminat Sow Fall and others. Some of Senghor and Sembène’s works were translated into Russian and published in the Soviet Union.
In May 2005, the French literary association “New Pleiades” established the international prize named after L. Senghor. The honor will annually recognize a poet whose works “fully demonstrate the richness and enormous potential of the French language.”
Music.
National music has ancient traditions. It was formed on the basis of the music of local peoples and is closely connected with the art of griots; it also experienced significant influence from Arab and European musical culture. In the second half. 20th century The influence of American pop music was felt, new styles appeared and spread widely.
Playing musical instruments, singing and dancing are closely related to everyday life local peoples. Musical instruments - a variety of balafons, drums (djembe, tama, paliela - among the Tukuler people, they are played exclusively by women), gnagnur, bells, xylophones (kora, etc.), one-string musical bows, rattles, horns, rattles and flutes. Singing is developed, songs are distinguished by a variety of genres. Particularly prominent is ritual singing, which is accompanied by music and dancing.
Senegal initiated and organized the 1st World Festival of Negro-African Art (FESMAN) in 1966. Outside the country, the name of the singer Youssou Ndour is known. In February 2004, several Senegalese folk groups and musical groups took part in the 1st International Festival of Nomadic Music, which was held in Nouakchott (Mauritania). In November 2004, Senegalese singer and musician Abdou Guité Seck became one of three finalists in the prestigious international competition "Music of the World", which has been organized by Radio France Internationale since 1981 with the aim of promoting the development of national music in Africa, the Caribbean and the region. Indian Ocean. Abdou Gite Seck's songs are a combination of Senegalese rhythms and Western rock. The French-Senegalese group called “Vok”, in which he worked, was the winner of the “Music of the World” prize in 2000. In 2003, this prize was also awarded to a Senegalese musician, Didier Awadi, who leads the rap group “Positive Black Sull”.
Among contemporary musicians and singers, Baaba Maal (leader of the group “Daande Lenol” (“Voice of the People”), which performs traditional music of the Wolof and Mandingo peoples, as well as funk and reggae music) and griot Mansour Sek are also popular. Jazz music festivals are held in Saint-Louis. In the summer of 2005, a two-day show of world music stars called “Africa Live” took place in Dakar, the proceeds from which were transferred to the fund to fight malaria.
Senegalese composer Gou Ba is taking part in a continental project to create the first African opera, called Opera of the Sahel (he is co-writing the music with composers from Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and the Comoros). The project, valued at $6 million, is financed by the Netherlands' Prince Claus Foundation. Completion of work on the music for the opera is planned for June 2006. The choreographic decision for the future performance has been entrusted to the famous Senegalese dancer Germaine Acogny.
In December 2006, the next World Festival of Negro-African Art (FESMAN-3) will open in Senegal. The cost of its organization is estimated at 7.5 billion CFA francs (200 million US dollars), which is 3 times more than the amount spent on the 1st festival.
Theater.
Modern national theatrical art is formed on the basis of rich traditional creativity. He was significantly influenced by the work of griots who staged improvisational performances. Senegal was one of the first countries in West Africa to introduce school theaters. The French theater school of U. Ponty, opened in the 1930s in Dakar, became the center for the creation of African dramatic theater. It trained not only students from Senegal, but also other West African countries (Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali), who later became prominent theatrical figures. In the 1950s, a conservatory of music and dramatic art operated in Dakar. Plays staged in French.
In 1961, the National Ballet Ensemble of Senegal was created, led by Maurice Sonar Senghor. The troupe went on tour to Western European countries, and in 1965 and 1970 performed in Moscow. Amateur theater groups were created. The first professional theater was created in Dakar in 1965 and was named “Theater named after. Daniel Sorano." It was also headed by M.S.Senghor. In addition to plays by local authors and foreign classics, the theater staged Auditor N.V. Gogol, and in the “Negro Theater” (also located in the capital) - a play Bear A.P. Chekhov. Senegalese playwrights - Amadou Cissé Dia, Abdou Anta Ka, Cheikh Ndao, directors - R. Hermantier and others.
Cinema.
Its emergence is associated with the activities of the “African Film Group”, created in 1955 by Senegalese students (P. Vieira, J. M. Kahn, R. Keristan and M. Sarre), who studied at the Paris Film Institute. They made the first Senegalese documentary called Africans on the Seine(1955). First feature film - Black from...– was made by director (also a famous poet and novelist) Sembène in 1966. The film is considered one of the first African feature films, and Sembène is often called the “father of African cinema.” He also directed films Emitai (1971), Challah (1975), Seddo(1977), etc. Sembène completed an internship at the film studio named after. Gorky by famous Soviet directors Sergei Gerasimov and Mark Donskoy. In May 2005, as part of the Cannes International Festival, he conducted a master class, which aroused great interest among both specialists and spectators. Other film directors are B. De Bey, P. Vieira, U. Mbaye, A. Samba Makarama, B. Senghor, J. Diop Mambetti, T. Sow, M.J. Traore. A film festival of African films is held in Dakar.
Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet.
Published in French:
– daily national newspaper “Le Soleil” (“The Sun”), as well as independent newspapers “Le Matin” (“The Morning”) and “Sud Quotidien” (“Daily of the South”);
– weekly government newsletter “Journal Officiel de la République du Sénégal” - “Official Newspaper of the Republic of Senegal”, inter-African newspaper on sports and culture “Zone II” (Zone II) ), the satirical newspaper Le Politicien (The Politician) and the Catholic weekly Afrique Nouvelle (New Africa);
- monthly newspapers "West African" (L"Ouest Africain - "African West"), "L"Unité Africaine - "African Unity", the print organ of the Socialist Party of Senegal) and magazines "Africa" ( Africa - "Africa"), illustrated magazines "Bingo" and "Senegal d'Aujourd"hui - "Senegal Today"), as well as socio-political and literary magazine Ethiopiques, the press organ of the Senegalese Democratic Party;
– newspapers published once every few months or irregularly: Le Carrefour - “Crossroads”, “Le Rénouveau” - “Renaissance”, the printed organ of the National Confederation of Workers of Senegal), Muntu Afrique (Muntu Afrique), "Fagaru" (Fagaru - "Vigilance", the printed organ of the party "Democratic League - Movement for the Creation of the Party of Labor") and the magazine "Slavist" (Le Slaviste - "Slavist").
The following are published in local languages: the weekly newspaper "Sopi" (Sopi - translated from the Wolof language means "Change", the printed organ of the Senegalese Democratic Party), the monthly newspaper "Daan Doole" - "The Worker", the printed organ of " Independence and Labor Party") and the magazine "Taxaw" (Taxaw - "Get Up", the printed organ of the National Democratic Party association") and the bimonthly magazine "Gestu" (Gestu - "Research", the printed organ of the "Party of Independence and Labor").
The government news agency "Press Agency of Senegal", APS (Agence de Presse Sénégalais, APS) has been operating since April 2, 1959. The state broadcasting and television service "Radiodiffusion-Télévision Sénégalais, RTS" has been operating since 1972. Radio and television broadcasts are carried out in French, Arabic, Portuguese, and six local languages. Senegal has one of the most developed Internet networks on the African continent. Telecommunications services are used by 10% of the country's population (more than 1 million people). In 2003 there were 225 thousand Internet users.
STORY
Ancient period.
The early history of Senegal is marked by the gradual migration of the Wolof and Serer from the northeast to the southwest. It seems that such movements were caused by pressure from the Berbers in the north and the Soninka in the east. Tucouleurs appeared in the Senegal River valley in the 9th century. and founded the state of Tekrur there, which in the 10th–14th centuries. occupied the territory of modern Senegal and Mali with the capital on the site modern city Podor. Berbers, who in the 10th century. settled on an island in the lower reaches of the Senegal River and converted some of the Tukuleurs to Islam. At the end of the 11th century. Muslim tukuleurs under the leadership of the Berber Almoravid dynasty participated in the defeat of the state of Ghana. In the 14th century territorial expansion began in the western direction of the state of Mali, where the Islamized Keita dynasty ruled. The Malians captured Tekrur, and at the height of their state controlled the upper reaches of the Senegal and Faleme rivers. The expansion of Mali forced the non-Muslim Serer to retreat to the Kaolaka region, where they live to this day. Since the 15th century. An important role in the spread of Islam belonged to the Moors, residents of the northern regions of Senegal. In the middle of the 15th century. the son of the Tucouleur clergyman N "Diadian N" Dyai led the Wolof struggle against the Tucouleur invaders and united the areas between the Senegal River and Cape Almadi into the state of Jolof. Began in the 17th century. rivalry between individual parts of this state (Wolof, Kayor, Baol and Valo) led to its collapse. In the 18th and 19th centuries, taking advantage of the fragmentation among the Wolof, they were attacked by the warlike Moorish emirates located in northern Senegal. In the 15th–18th centuries. There was a temporary strengthening of the power of the Tukuler rulers, who were vassals of one or another foreign dynasty, but the collapse of the Jolof state meant the end of the existence in this region of large state formations created on a tribal basis.
19th century was marked by French colonial expansion and the concurrent revival of Islam and its spread in the territory of modern Senegal. In the middle of the 19th century. Tukuler al-Hajj Omar began a religious war in the northeastern regions, but after a clash with the French he was forced to move military operations further to the east. A unique form of protection from the French was the mass conversion of Western Wolof to Islam, and after the capture of the country by French colonialists, the population of Casamance followed the example of the Wolof.
Colonial period.
With its appearance in the 15th century. The Portuguese began the penetration of Europeans into the coastal regions of Senegal. The Portuguese were followed by the Dutch, English and French. Late 17th century and the entire 18th century. were marked by Anglo-French rivalry for control of the coast of Senegal. Europeans exported from there mainly gum arabic and slaves. At the beginning of the 19th century. Peanuts became the main and profitable export item. Until the middle of the 19th century. French control was limited mainly to Saint-Louis, Gorée and Rufisque. During the Second French Empire, during the governorship of General Louis Federbe (1854–1865), and then during the first 30 years of the Third Republic, the French, using force, significantly increased the area of \u200b\u200btheir colonial possessions.
In 1895, Senegal was declared a colony of France, and subsequently included in French West Africa. administrative center which the city of Dakar became in 1902.
While the vast majority of the African population of Senegal was deprived of basic human rights, the indigenous inhabitants of the cities of Saint-Louis, Gorée, Rufisque and Dakar, who received the status of communes, became the object of the French policy of “assimilation”. The population of these cities were granted the rights of French citizens, including the right to participate in the elections of a deputy to the French parliament, which they enjoyed in 1848–1852, and then continuously from 1871. The first African deputy of the French National Assembly was Blaise Diagne, who in 1914– 1934 represented the interests of Senegal. In 1879, an elected general council was created for the municipal cities. Its importance diminished when, in 1920, leaders from the interior of Senegal were included in its composition, and it was renamed the colonial council. Despite its subordination to the French colonial administration, during the interwar period this body played an important role in training local politicians. Thus, one of the Senegalese politicians, Dakarian Lamine Gay, who in 1945 was elected to the French parliament, managed to achieve the abolition of forced labor and the difference in status between residents of commune cities and the rest of the country's population.
From 1946 to 1958, Senegal, like other French colonies in West Africa, had the status of an "overseas territory" of France, with its own territorial assembly and member of the French Parliament, and gradually more Senegalese were given the right to vote. As the number of voters grew, Léopold Sédar Senghor began political work in rural areas from 1948 and created a new political party, which from 1951 under various names dominated the political life of the country. The positions of another prominent political figure of that time, Lamin Gay, who relied mainly on the population of the commune cities, were undermined.
In 1958, after Charles de Gaulle came to power, Senghor called on the people of Senegal to vote in a referendum in support of DeGaulle's constitution and vote for autonomy status within the French Community. His left-wing opponents unsuccessfully agitated his fellow citizens to vote against autonomy and for immediate independence. In early 1959, Senegal, together with the former French Sudan, formed the Federation of Mali, which in June 1960 became independent within the French Community. In August of the same year, Senegal left the federation and was recognized as a sovereign state.
Period of independent development.
In December 1962, after the arrest of Prime Minister Mamadou Dia on charges of preparing a coup, L. Senghor introduced a presidential form of government in the country. During his presidency, Senghor rarely had to deal with organized opposition forces. In 1968, he managed to neutralize a general strike led by the National Confederation of Workers of Senegal. Later, this largest trade union association was brought under the control of the ruling party. On December 31, 1980, Senghor resigned. His successor as president was Abdou Diouf, who had been prime minister since 1970. In July 1981, Diouf sent Senegalese troops to the Gambia to suppress an attempted coup. Soon after, an agreement was reached between both states to create the Senegambia confederation, which came into force in February 1982. In 1989, this agreement was terminated.
Although A. Diouf and the Socialist Party of Senegal achieved significant success in the presidential and parliamentary elections of 1983 and 1988, opposition groups alleged abuses by rivals during the election campaign, and the 1988 elections were accompanied by major unrest. In 1989, the ruling party made a number of concessions to the opposition, but opponents of the ruling regime continued to fight for the right of access to state media. Although the constitution was amended in 1991 and the election law was revised, the 1993 presidential elections were again accompanied by civil unrest. Nevertheless, A. Diouf was re-elected president for another seven-year term. In the 1998 parliamentary elections, the ruling Socialist Party of Senegal won the majority of seats (93 seats), followed by the opposition Democratic Party of Senegal (23 seats) and the Movement for Democratic Renewal (11 seats). In general, Senegal pursues a peaceful interstate and internal policy and makes efforts aimed at the financial recovery of the country and the elimination of external and internal debt.
Senegal in the 21st century
The 2000 presidential elections took place in two rounds. Of the six main candidates, the candidate from the Socialist Party of Senegal (PPS) Abdou Diouf (41.33% of the votes) and the candidate from the opposition bloc of Alternative 2000 parties Abdoulaye Wade (30.97%) qualified for the second round on March 19 votes), running for this post for the 5th time. Wad won, for whom 969.33 thousand votes were cast (58.49%), Diouf received 41.51% of the votes (687.97 thousand people). The transfer of power peacefully within the framework of constitutional norms made it possible to maintain political stability in the country.
In 2000, Wade put forward the Omega Plan for African development, which was in many ways similar to the Millennium Partnership for the African Recovery Program (MAP), jointly developed in the same year. period by the presidents of South Africa (T. Mbeki), Algeria (A. Bouteflika) and Nigeria (O. Obasanjo). On July 11, 2001 in Lusaka (Zambia) at the next OAU summit meeting, these two programs were approved and combined into a document called NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development).
The new constitution, adopted on January 7, 2001, abolished the Senate. The parliamentary elections scheduled for 2003 were held ahead of schedule on April 29, 2001. Parties supporting President Wade (Democratic League - Movement for the Creation of the Labor Party (ML - DSPT), Movement for Socialism and Unity (DSU), etc.), united in a coalition called “Sopi” (translated from the Wolof language - “change”). The coalition won a landslide victory - 89 of the 120 seats in the National Assembly. The Alliance of the Forces of Progress (ASP - an electoral bloc of parties led by the Socialist Party of Senegal) received 11 seats, and it itself won 10 seats.
Senegal has managed to maintain political stability. On December 30, 2004, a peace agreement was signed between the government of Senegal and the MFDC (Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance). On the agenda are the problems of mine clearance in Casamance, as well as the elimination of illegal small arms (there are up to 6 thousand units - beginning of 2005).
The Wada government continues to pursue policies of economic liberalization. Senegal has created the most favorable system of tax incentives for foreign investors in West Africa. A presidential investment council has been established to develop the investment program. In 2002, French investments in the economy of Senegal amounted to 35 million euros (in the economy of Mali - 7 million, Guinea - 5 million). In 2004, the level of corporate tax was reduced from 33 to 25 percent. Reforms are being carried out in the field of customs legislation to promote the development of trade. In January 2005, Wad announced the government's intention to create a commission to reform land legislation in the near future. Much attention is paid to the development of the telecommunications sector. A campaign is underway to combat bureaucracy and corruption. According to a study conducted by the World Bank (WB) in 2004, bureaucratic procedures for registering companies in Senegal take less time compared to other sub-Saharan African countries. In 2005, 250 French companies opened their offices in the country. In 2005, Senegal ranked 78th (out of 159) in Transparency International's corruption rankings. Programs for cultural development and sports are being implemented (in 2005, the government allocated 1.6 billion CFA francs to ensure the participation of Senegalese athletes in international competitions).
The 5th Annual Global Development Conference took place in Dakar on January 24–26, 2005. The forum addressed issues of relations and mutual influence between developed and developing countries.
Due to the need to finance a government program to help those affected by floods in some parts of the country in the summer of 2005, Wade postponed parliamentary elections scheduled for 2006. The opposition accused the president of being unwilling to relinquish power. He was also criticized for his frequent trips (mostly foreign), in which he spent more than one year out of the 4 years he was in power (he visited France alone 28 times during these years). However, President Abdoulaye Wade was re-elected in March 2007.
However, in the 2012 elections, Wade was defeated in the second round of the presidential election (in the first round he was in the lead with 34.8% of the votes), losing to former Prime Minister, founder and chairman of the Alliance for the Republic party, Macky Sell. Senegal's leading opposition politicians and public organizations came out in support of the latter.
Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa.
Lyubov Prokopenko
Literature:
Recent history Africa. M., “Science”, 1968
Kashin Yu.S. Senegal. M., “Thought”, 1973
Clark, A.F., and Phillips, L.C. Historical Dictionary of Senegal. 2nd Edn. Metuchen, NJ, Scarecrow Press, 1994
Barry Boubacar. International aspects of the armed conflict in southern Senegal. M., Publishing House of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 1999
Sadovskaya L.M. Leaders of Senegal and Tunisia. M., Publishing House of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2000
The World of Learning 2003, 53rd Edition. L.-N.Y.: Europa Publications, 2002
Bellitto, M. Une histoire du Sénégal et de ses entreprises publiques. Paris, L'Harmattan, 2002
Africa South of the Sahara. 2004. L.-N.Y.: Europa Publications, 2003
Where are you going, Africa? Historical and political studies
African countries and Russia. Directory. M., Publishing House of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2004
SENEGAL
Republic of Senegal, a state in West Africa with access to the Atlantic Ocean. It borders on the north with Mauritania, on the east on Mali, on the south on Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. The northern border of the country runs along the Senegal River, and the eastern border almost coincides with the bed of the Senegal tributary, the Faleme River. From the coast, the territory of the small state of Gambia extends deep into Senegal in the lower reaches of the Gambia River. Area 196.7 thousand square meters. km, population 9.88 million people (1998). The capital is Dakar (1.5 million people, with suburbs of about 2 million). In the past, it was a colony of France, part of French West Africa. In 1960, Senegal gained independence, but maintains close economic relations with the former metropolis.
Nature. Senegal is a flat country. The average absolute surface elevation is 60 m, only in the extreme southeast does it rise to approximately 150-400 m above sea level, and in the foothills of the Futa Djallon massif is the most high point countries - 581 m above sea level Most of Senegal is confined to the savannah zone. Only the northern regions of the country include the Sahel zone (desert savannah). In the southwest, in the lower reaches of the Casamance River, mixed deciduous-evergreen forests have been preserved. The coastline north of Dakar is flattened, while to the south it is more dissected. Here are the swampy estuaries of the Sine, Saloum and Casamance rivers. Most large rivers countries - Senegal, Gambia and Casamance - have a constant flow. In the dry season, the Senegal River is navigable only to the city of Podor, and in the rainy season it is navigable throughout the country. The remaining rivers dry up during the dry season. In the northeast of the country there is a large lake Gyor.
Climate Senegal is subequatorial, transitional from arid in the north (250-300 mm of precipitation per year) to humid in the south (up to 1500 mm of precipitation). The rainy season in the north lasts from June to September, and in the south from May to November (when air transport from southwest to northeast predominates). During the long dry season, the dry Harmattan wind constantly blows from the northeast, from the Sahara Desert.
Population and society. The population of Senegal consists of three large ethno-linguistic groups - Senegambian, Fulbe and Mande. The Senegambian group (65% of the country's population) includes the Wolof (the most numerous), Serer, Lebu and Diola peoples. It is believed that the Fulani are settled throughout West Africa where conditions are suitable for grazing. Initially, they occupied the Senegal River valley and savannah areas south of the river bend, and the Fulani were descended from the mixing of the local Toukouler people with the Berber conquerors. The Fulbe make up approximately 25% of Senegal's population. The Malinke and Soninke (Sarakol) peoples account for 7% of the population. They form the core of the Mande group. In the past, Malinka and Soninka played a leading role in agriculture and the political life of the interior of West Africa. In Senegal, there are 1% Moors and 2% Europeans and Lebanese. Europeans, mostly French, live in Dakar.
There is no particular language problem in Senegal. Because the Wolof language is related to the Serer and Lebu languages and people speaking these three languages understand each other, Wolof is increasingly used as a language of interethnic communication. Serer is an archaic form of the Fula language, which is also widely spoken in the country. The official language is French. In Senegal, religious differences play a much larger role than ethnic ones. Both the Muslim majority (94% of the population in 1988) and the Christian minority (4%) strive to increase the number of their coreligionists. Active work to spread Islam is being carried out by the Murid sect of the Muslim order of Kadriya, which advocates the revival of original Islam. Its adherents emphasize solitude and hard work. Most of the murids' followers are Wolof peasants engaged in the cultivation of peanuts. They are a wealthy part of Senegalese society and enjoy significant political influence. 25% of Christians, mostly Catholics, are Europeans. Distribution Christian teaching Senegambians living in cities are actively involved. One of the first results of the Islamization of the population was the emergence of a kind of caste system in society, which, for example, assigned blacksmiths and musicians to lower levels in the social hierarchy. As the country modernized, the caste system gradually gave way to the division of society into different social strata.
Political system. Senegal's modern political institutions were created by Léopold Sédar Senghor, the country's president from 1960-1980. In June 1960, the Federation of Mali, which included Senegal, declared political independence. In August of that year, the federation dissolved and Senegal became an independent state. The post of the country's first president was taken by Senghor, and the prime minister by Mamadou Dia. After Senghor defeated his opponent Dia during the political crisis in December 1962, a presidential system of government was introduced in Senegal in March 1963. In 1970, the post of prime minister was restored, but now the prime minister was subordinate to the president. When Senghor resigned in December 1980, his successor as president was Abdou Diouf, who had previously been the country's prime minister for 10 years. Diouf was then elected president in 1983, 1988 and 1993. According to the 1963 Senegalese constitution, the president and members of parliament are elected by general and direct elections. According to the constitutional amendments of 1991, chapter executive power- the president is considered elected by a majority of votes if at least a quarter of the electorate turns out. The president is elected for a seven-year term and has no right to serve more than two terms in power. Elections of 140 deputies to the unicameral parliament (National Assembly) are held every five years. Half of the deputies in the highest legislature Senegalese are elected in direct general elections using a proportional system from each of the country's 10 regions (Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Lougas, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies and Ziguinchor), and half are elected using a majoritarian system. In 1991 the Supreme Court consisted of the Constitutional Court, State Council and the Supreme Court of Appeal. The leading political organization is the Socialist Party of Senegal (SPS). The party was created by Senghor in 1948, and it remained under the influence of its founder for a long time after his resignation as president. Until 1976 the party was called the Progressive Union of Senegal (PUS). The Union of Right Forces is a coalition party, which in its activities takes into account the interests of numerous clans and factions. The party's stronghold is the peanut growing areas. They are located near the cities of Thies, Diourbel and Kaolack, where the influence of the murids is strong. The main opposition forces (besides opposition parties) are the terrorist separatist movement in the Casamance region and students at the University of Dakar. From the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, when Senghor allowed opposition political organizations to operate, Senegal was a one-party state. There are currently 19 political parties registered in the country. In the 1998 parliamentary elections, the SPS won (93 seats), the liberal Democratic Party of Senegal (DPS, 23 seats) came in second, followed by the Democratic Renewal Movement (11 seats). The Democratic League - the Movement for the Creation of the Labor Party (ML - DSPT), the Independence and Labor Party of Senegal (PNTS), the Movement for Socialism and Unity, and the National Democratic Rally - have some influence in the political life of the country. In foreign policy Senegal is targeting France, the Muslim world and French-speaking African countries. The special relationship between Senegal and France is secured by numerous treaties and agreements; Senegal receives significant financial assistance from France. Senegal is a member of the UN, the Economic Community of West African States, the Organization of African Unity, the Islamic Development Bank, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and an associate member of the EU.
Economy. Senegal is an agricultural country, traditionally producing millet and rice for domestic consumption and peanuts for export. Despite the fact that almost 75% of the economically active population in 1994 was employed in agriculture, the share of this sector was only 23% of GDP. The largest share of GDP came from the service sector, followed by mining and manufacturing. Adjusted for the level of domestic prices, i.e. Based on purchasing power parity, Senegal's GDP in 1995 was $14.5 billion, or $1,600 per capita. For several decades, the average economic growth rate was less than 3%. After the devaluation of the CFA franc in 1994 and the introduction of measures to liberalize the economy, its real growth was 4.5% in 1995. The average income of urban residents is higher than that of rural residents, and that of Europeans is much higher than that of Africans. The population in the valleys of the Senegal and Casamance rivers lives especially poorly. Although Senegal was one of the two most industrialized countries in French West Africa, as well as its administrative, commercial and industrial center, it is forced to import most of its required manufacturing products. It was mainly Africans who served in the civil service, but the French still occupy a number of important leadership positions and work in areas requiring high professional training. Large trading firms and many industries are still owned or controlled by the French. The economic niche of Lebanese immigrants is intermediation, in addition, they control wholesale trade and many medium-sized trading companies.
Agriculture and fishing. Although peanut cultivation has declined, it remains the country's main cash crop. However, its average annual production decreased from 1 million tons in the 1970s to 800 thousand tons in the 1990s. Increased production of sugar, rice and especially cotton (40 thousand tons in 1996) helped to smooth out the problem of instability of peanut crops and strong fluctuations in world prices for this crop. Sugarcane is grown in the north in the Saint-Louis region. Since 1971, market-oriented fruit growing (mainly citrus fruits) has been successfully developing. The cereal crops grown are sorghum, corn and rice (the latter in the floodplains of the Senegal and Casamance rivers), in addition, cassava, yams, and oil palm are grown. Marine fishing developed so dynamically that it began to compete in economic importance with the production of peanuts. Approx. 270 tons of fish. Fishing in Senegal's coastal waters is regulated by trade agreements with the EU and several African countries. Cattle, sheep and goats are raised for domestic consumption. Approximately valid in Senegal. 300 industrial enterprises. The main industries are food, light, chemical, mining and cement (about 400 thousand tons of cement are produced per year). The basis of the food industry is the production of peanut butter (96 thousand tons per year). In addition, Dakar has fish processing plants that freeze and preserve fish, mainly tuna. Since the late 1960s, phosphorites have accounted for a significant share of export revenues. Their production is approx. 2.5 million tons per year.
Internal trade and transport. The densest network of roads and railways is in the west and center of the country. The railway line stretches across the country from west to east and connects Senegal with the capital of Mali, Bamako. In 1993, work was completed to expand the port at Dakar, the largest port on the West African coast. In 1995 and 1996, there was a 16% increase in the volume of cargo passing through this port. Less significant ports are Khaolack, Saint-Louis and Ziguinchor. Dakar has a major international airport, and plans are underway to build another airport near the capital. The construction of the Jama Dam lengthened the navigable part of the Senegal River four times.
International trade. Senegal's main trading partner is France, which accounted for 34% of imports in 1991 and approx. 32% of exports. In 1991, the value of imports amounted to almost 1.1 billion dollars, and exports - 683 million. The chronic trade deficit was covered by deferrals of debt payments (subject to implementation of IMF programs), debt write-offs to Western creditors, as well as through loans and subsidies from France, the IMF and the World Bank. In 1986, seafood became the leading export item instead of peanuts; in 1994, they accounted for 31% of the value of all exports. Petroleum products, chemical products and phosphorites also occupy an important place in exports. The main import items are food, industrial equipment, oil, medicines and cars.
Banking, money circulation and budget. Senegal is part of the French franc zone and is a member of the West African Monetary Union. The currency, the CFA franc, is pegged to the French franc. Its emission is controlled by the Central Bank, as well as African countries within the CFA franc and France's coverage area. In order to improve economic competitiveness and stimulate production growth, the CFA franc was devalued by 50% in 1994. Credit policy is determined by the Central Bank of Senegal together with a special government committee. Commercial banking activities are carried out by four local banks, part of the share capital of which is owned by banks in the United States and Western Europe, as well as a state bank. The state budget of Senegal for 1997 provided for revenues of $817 million and expenditures of $869 million. A significant share of government revenues comes from foreign tourism ($170 million in 1996). The public investment program approved in 1997 provides for the allocation of $174 million over a three-year period to repair highways, urban water supply systems and other infrastructure elements. Capital construction is financed mainly with the help of France, the EU, the African Development Bank, the World Bank and various Arab funds.
Culture. The education system in Senegal is copied from the French one. True, since 1978 the study of the Wolof language has been introduced into the curriculum of pedagogical institutions. There is a high proportion of children who do not receive any education. Thus, in 1992, only 58% of children of the corresponding age attended primary school. Only a third of the adult population is literate. In 1992, there were approx. 725 thousand children, in secondary and technical - 191 thousand, in higher education educational institutions- OK. 22 thousand. The largest university in the country is Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar. As part of this university there is a world-famous Institute basic research Black Africa. In 1990, the University of Saint-Louis opened. Representatives of the older generation of Senegalese intelligentsia, opponents of the policy of assimilation, began to develop the theory of negritude, which was based on ideas about the uniqueness of the black race and its contribution to world civilization, even in the pre-war years. Among the well-known humanitarians and politicians are: historians Cheikh Anta Diop and Lye Abdoulaye, political scientists Mamadou Dia and Majmut Diop, poets Leopold Sédar Senghor and David Diop, writers Abdoulaye Saji, Ousmane Sosé, writer and folklorist Birago Diop. The first Senegalese writer to achieve international fame was the writer Sembène Ousmane, who later became a prolific film director. Many consider him the father of African cinema. Wolof jewelers are famous for their gold and silver items. The country maintains song and dance traditions that incorporate elements of popular Western music.
Story. The early history of Senegal is marked by the gradual migration of the Wolof and Serer from the northeast to the southwest. It seems that such movements were caused by pressure from the Berbers in the north and the Soninka in the east. Tuculers appeared in the Senegal River valley in the 9th century. and founded the state of Tekrur there, which in the 10th-14th centuries. occupied the territory of modern Senegal and Mali with its capital on the site of the modern city of Podor. Berbers, who in the 10th century. settled on an island in the lower reaches of the Senegal River and converted some of the Tukulers to Islam. At the end of the 11th century. Muslim tukulers under the leadership of the Berber Almoravid dynasty participated in the defeat of the state of Ghana. In the 14th century territorial expansion began in the western direction of the state of Mali, where the Islamized Keita dynasty ruled. The Malians captured Tekrur, and at the height of their state controlled the upper reaches of the Senegal and Faleme rivers. The expansion of Mali forced the non-Muslim Serer to retreat to the Kaolaka region, where they live to this day. Since the 15th century. An important role in the spread of Islam belonged to the Moors, residents of the northern regions of Senegal. In the middle of the 15th century. the son of the Toukouler clergyman N "Diadian N" Dyay led the Wolof struggle against the Toukouler invaders and united the areas between the Senegal River and Cape Almadi into the state of Jolof. Began in the 17th century. rivalry between individual parts of this state (Wolof, Kayor, Baol and Valo) led to its collapse. In the 18th and 19th centuries, taking advantage of the fragmentation among the Wolof, they were attacked by the warlike Moorish emirates located in northern Senegal. In the 15th-18th centuries. There was a temporary strengthening of the power of the Tukuler rulers, who were vassals of one or another foreign dynasty, but the collapse of the Jolof state meant the end of the existence in this region of large state formations created on a tribal basis. 19th century was marked by French colonial expansion and the concurrent revival of Islam and its spread in the territory of modern Senegal. In the middle of the 19th century. Tukuler al-Haj Omar began a religious war in the northeastern regions, but after a clash with the French he was forced to move military operations further to the east. A unique form of protection from the French was the mass conversion of Western Wolof to Islam, and after the capture of the country by French colonialists, the population of Casamance followed the example of the Wolof. With its appearance in the 15th century. The Portuguese began the penetration of Europeans into the coastal regions of Senegal. The Portuguese were followed by the Dutch, English and French. Late 17th century and the entire 18th century. were marked by Anglo-French rivalry for control of the coast of Senegal. Europeans exported from there mainly gum arabic and slaves. At the beginning of the 19th century. Peanuts became the main and profitable export item. Until the middle of the 19th century. French control was limited mainly to Saint-Louis, Gorée and Rufisque. During the Second French Empire, during the governorship of General Louis Federbe (1854-1865), and then during the first 30 years of the Third Republic, the French, using force, significantly increased the area of their colonial possessions. In 1895, Senegal was declared a colony of France, and subsequently included in French West Africa, the administrative center of which was the city of Dakar in 1902. While the vast majority of the African population of Senegal was deprived of basic human rights, the indigenous inhabitants of the cities of Saint-Louis, Gorée, Rufisque and Dakar, who received the status of communes, became the object of the French policy of “assimilation”. The population of these cities were granted the rights of French citizens, including the right to participate in the elections of a deputy to the French parliament, which they enjoyed in 1848-1852, and then continuously from 1871. The first African deputy of the French National Assembly was Blaise Diagne, who in 1914-1852 1934 represented the interests of Senegal. In 1879, an elected general council was created for the municipal cities. Its importance diminished when, in 1920, leaders from the interior of Senegal were included in its composition, and it was renamed the colonial council. Despite its subordination to the French colonial administration, during the interwar period this body played an important role in training local politicians. Thus, one of the Senegalese politicians, Dakarian Lamine Gay, who in 1945 was elected to the French parliament, managed to achieve the abolition of forced labor and the difference in status between residents of commune cities and the rest of the country's population. In 1946-1958, Senegal, like other French colonies in West Africa, had the status of an "overseas territory" of France with its own territorial assembly and a deputy in the French parliament, and gradually more and more Senegalese were given the right to vote. As the number of voters grew, Léopold Sédar Senghor began political work in rural areas from 1948 and created a new political party, which from 1951 under various names dominated the political life of the country. The positions of another prominent political figure of that time, Lamin Gay, who relied mainly on the population of the commune cities, were undermined. In 1958, after Charles de Gaulle came to power, Senghor called on the people of Senegal to vote in a referendum in support of DeGaulle's constitution and vote for autonomy status within the French Community. His left-wing opponents unsuccessfully agitated his fellow citizens to vote against autonomy and for immediate independence. In early 1959, Senegal, together with the former French Sudan, formed the Federation of Mali, which in June 1960 became independent within the French Community. In August of the same year, Senegal left the federation and was recognized as a sovereign state. In December 1962, after the arrest of Prime Minister Mamadou Dia on charges of preparing a coup, L. Senghor introduced a presidential form of government in the country. During his presidency, Senghor rarely had to deal with organized opposition forces. In 1968, he managed to neutralize a general strike led by the National Confederation of Workers of Senegal. Later, this largest trade union association was brought under the control of the ruling party. On December 31, 1980, Senghor resigned. His successor as president was Abdou Diouf, who had been prime minister since 1970. In July 1981, Diouf sent Senegalese troops to the Gambia to suppress an attempted coup. Soon after, an agreement was reached between both states to create the Senegambia confederation, which came into force in February 1982. In 1989, this agreement was terminated. Although A. Diouf and the Socialist Party of Senegal achieved significant success in the presidential and parliamentary elections of 1983 and 1988, opposition groups alleged abuses by rivals during the election campaign, and the 1988 elections were accompanied by major unrest. In 1989, the ruling party made a number of concessions to the opposition, but opponents of the ruling regime continued to fight for the right of access to state media. Although the constitution was amended in 1991 and the election law was revised, the 1993 presidential elections were again accompanied by civil unrest. Nevertheless, A. Diouf was re-elected president for another seven-year term. In the 1998 parliamentary elections, the ruling Socialist Party of Senegal won the majority of seats (93 seats), followed by the opposition Democratic Party of Senegal (23 seats) and the Movement for Democratic Renewal (11 seats). In general, Senegal pursues a peaceful interstate and internal policy and makes efforts aimed at the financial recovery of the country and the elimination of external and internal debt.
LITERATURE
Kashin Yu.S. Senegal. M., 1973 Kuznetsov L.M. At the westernmost point of Africa. Dakar. M., 1980
Collier's Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .
Synonyms:See what "SENEGAL" is in other dictionaries:
Republic of Senegal, state in 3. Africa. Modern the name of the state of Senegal and the river of the same name flowing through its north. border, apparently, go back to the name of the kingdom of Sangana, which is mentioned by an Arab geographer of the 11th century. Al Bakri. At the core... ... Geographical encyclopedia
Senegal- Senegal. Schoolchildren from Dakar, 1976. SENEGAL (Republic of Senegal), a state in West Africa, washed in the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Area 196.2 thousand km2. Population 7.9 million, mainly Wolof, Fulani, Serer, Toucouleur, Diola and... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
Nature and geography of Senegal
Senegal is a country located in West Africa and bordered by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the north, east and south respectively. In the west, this country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the country's territory is made up of plains; there are significant hills only in the southeast and southwest of the country, and even those do not exceed 500 meters. In the north of the country is the semi-desert Sahel, with sparse vegetation in the form of shrubs and grasses.
The total area of Senegal is 196,200 km2. There are only three major cities: Khaolack, Thies and Dakar, the latter of which is the capital of Senegal.
Population of Senegal
The country has a population of 9.4 million people, 98% of whom are members of the Niger-Congo group. There are also about 50,000 Arabs, 20,000 French and 15,000 Lebanese living in the country.
Religion of Senegal
By religion, the absolute majority (90%) is occupied by Sunni Muslims, the remaining 10% is divided between pagans and Christians in a ratio of 6:4, respectively.
Languages of Senegal
As for the language, the state language is French, but in the tourism sector English is more common. A large number of residents speak French, German, and English languages; Also in some regions, the languages Pular, Wolof, Tukuler and some others are common.
Currency of Senegal
The main currency here is the CFA franc, which is equal to approximately one French franc.
Climate of Senegal
The air temperature in all regions is approximately the same and ranges from +23o to +28o. The rainy season usually lasts from July to October. The south of the Atlantic coast is the wettest area, with up to 2000 mm of precipitation per year. Precipitation
National holidays of Senegal
The country's main national holiday is Independence Day, which is celebrated on April 4.
Sights of Senegal
Senegal, by African standards, is a very calm country. The national symbol of this country is the baobab (these trees are protected by law; cutting them down and climbing on them is prohibited without special permission). There are a huge number of dishes using this plant, but its juice is considered the most delicious. The capital of the country (Dakar), has a cool, stable climate and is one of the best tourist centers in Africa. The city center is limited to three streets and is filled with restaurants, shops and clubs, making it a good place to stroll. The main attractions of the capital are the museums: Historical, Art, Maritime and IFAN Museum, which have a large collection of sculptures and musical instruments, as well as an amazing collection of masks. The Presidential Palace, which was built back in 1906, is surrounded by an amazing park. Also near the city center is the Great Mosque, which is illuminated at night, but non-Muslims are strictly prohibited from entering. Les Almandies is probably the best resort in the country, located twenty minutes drive from Dakar. Here, along the beach, prestigious hotels rise, many of which are occupied by mansions built in the colonial style.
