An Introduction to Senegal
The land now known as the Republic of Senegal was home in the 17th and 18th Centuries to the coa'tal trading posts of various colonial empires. From the 1850s, France expanded its influence inland, eventually colonising the area and naming the town of St. Louis as the capital of French West Africa. This was later transferred to Dakar which became Senegal's capital with independence in June 1960. See full country profile.Latest Research News from Africa
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GOVERNMENT: republic
AREA: 196,722 sq km
POPULATION: 12,643,799 (July 2011 est.)
MAJOR LANGUAGE: Official Language: French; Recognised Regional Languages: Wolof, Soninke, Seereer-Siin, Fula, Maninka, Diola
Some business and general info
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Trade and Industry in Senegal
It's also one of a small group of tropical countries that has sent competitors to the Winter Olympics, although they have yet to win a medal. Lamine Gueye represented the country in Skiing in 1984, 1992, and 1994, and Leyti Seck in 2006.
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The land now known as the Republic of Senegal was home in the 17th and 18th Centuries to the coa'tal trading posts of various colonial empires. From the 1850s, France expanded its influence inland, eventually colonising the area and naming the town of St. Louis as the capital of French West Africa. This was later transferred to Dakar which became Senegal's capital with independence in June 1960.
Senegal's quasi-democratic political culture features local administrators appointed by, and responsible to, the president; as well as the marabouts, leaders of the various Senegalese Muslim brotherhoods, who also exercise a strong political influence in the country.
GDP: $23.88 billion (2010 est.) - $1,900 per capita (2010 est.)
Religions Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 1%
Currency: Central African Franc (CAF) - GBP 1 = CAF 752
Telephone Code: +221
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The West Africa Region (Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Benin Togo and Mali) had an industry turnover of $USD 51m in 2010, up 10.8% on 2009.Senegal is a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, working toward greater regional integration, and of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa.
Despite a mini-boom in information technology-based services as one of the first African countries to espouse the Internet in 1996, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems including chronic high unemployment, socioeconomic disparity and juvenile delinquency. The country is a major recipient of international development assistance, from donors including USAID, Japan, France and China.
In 2010, around $2.06bn worth of fish, peanuts, petroleum products, phosphates and cotton were exported to partners led by Mali (19.3%) and including Switzerland, France, the UK and India. Twice as much was imported ($4.444bn) with the main suppliers being France (20%), Nigeria, China, Thailand and Spain and the main commodities food, capital goods & fuel.
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