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Rufisque روفيسك | |
|---|---|
 Industrial Rufisque, 2006 | |
  Rufisque | |
| Coordinates:14°43′N17°16′W / 14.717°N 17.267°W /14.717; -17.267 | |
| Country |  Senegal |
| Region | Dakar Region |
| Population (2023 census)[1] | |
• Total | 295,459 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
Rufisque (Arabic:روفيسك;Wolof: Tëngeéj) is a city in theDakar region of westernSenegal, at the base of theCap-VertPeninsula 25 kilometres (16 mi) east ofDakar, the capital. It has a population of 295,459 (2023 census).[1] In the past it was an important port city in its own right, but is now asuburb of Dakar.
Rufisque is also the capital of thedepartment of thesame name.
Originally aLebou fishing village called Tenguedj (Wolof:Tëngéej), Rufisque became important in the 16th century as the principal port of the kingdom ofCayor, being frequented by Portuguese (who named itRio Fresco, meaning "Freshwater River", hence the name of the modern city), Dutch, French and English traders. A Euro-AfricanCreole, orMétis, community of merchants grew up there, in close contact with similar communities inSaint Louis,Gorée and other places along the Petite Côte (Saly-Portudal,Joal) south to theGambia River.[citation needed] By the 1650s, theDutch West India Company had consolidated control over the coastal trade and built a fortified factory at Rufisque.[2]
In 1840 a couple of Saint Louis merchants built warehouses on the waterfront to stockpeanuts. Gorée merchants followed suit. There followed a period of commercial expansion as peanut production in Cayor boomed. In 1859 a fort was built by the French and Rufisque was annexed to theColony of Senegal. The "Escale" commercial and administrative neighborhood along the waterfront was laid out in 1862—the African inhabitants being pushed out in the process. Rufisque became a "commune" in 1880 and its port was connected to the Dakar-Saint Louis railroad in 1885.[citation needed] In 1909Galandou Diouf (died 1941) was elected to represent Rufisque in the General Council of the colony in Saint Louis, being the first African elected to that position.[3]
In July 2025, France returned the Rufisque military base to Senegal.[4]
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Early in the 20th century the growth of neighboring Dakar, with its superior port facilities, signaled the decline of Rufisque. No longer an active port, Rufisque has experienced steep industrial decline. Relatively neglected compared to rest of Senegal'sfour historic communes, it has no tourism sector and a chronic lack of investment in public infrastructure.[citation needed]
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Rufisque has acement works.[5]
Omar Cissé took office as Mayor of Rufisque on 28 January 2022.[6] Previously,Mbaye-Jacques Diop was Mayor from 1987 to 2002, and subsequently designated as Honorary Mayor, and Ndiawar Touré served from June 2002.
14°43′N17°16′W / 14.717°N 17.267°W /14.717; -17.267
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