TheRepublic of Senegal (FrenchRépublique da Sénégal) is a country inWest Africa. The capital isDakar. Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres. It has population of about 18 million. The climate is tropical with two seasons: the dry season and the rainy cold season. Senegal was given independence byFrance 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 beenMacky Sall.
In the15th century,Portuguese people came toGorée Island off the coast ofDakar. In the17th century,French people andDutch people came there, too. These European countries used the island as a trading post inslaves from the mainland, and was controlled by theMuslimWolof Empires. Slavery was later made illegal by France, but soon after, around 1850, the French started to conquer the Wolof. By1902 Senegal was a part of the FrenchcolonyFrench West Africa.
In January 1959, Senegal and theFrench Sudan became one to form theMali 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 andMali broke apart into separate nations. Between 1982 and 1989, Senegal andThe Gambia joined together to makeSenegambia.
On July 1, 2025, France handed over the Rufisque joint station to Senegal. This station, active since 1960, was responsible for communications on the southern Atlantic coast. It also served as a listening station in the fight against maritime trafficking. The handover was carried out without ceremony, limited to the signing of a report. The handover of the last remaining military infrastructure in Senegal to the Senegalese authorities is planned. On July 18, 2025, the two military sites will be returned to the Senegalese government: the airport base and Camp Geille, a 5-hectare site located in Ouakam. Four villas located in Plateau, near the port, will also be transferred to the Senegalese authorities.[9]
In the north of Senegal is theSenegal River. To the north of the river isMauritania. The nation bordersMali in the east,Guinea-Bissau in the south, andGuinea in the south-east.The Gambia is another country inside of Senegal, along theGambia River. It is about 300 km long.
The north of Senegal is part of theSahel. The highest mountain is 581 m high. The rainy season is betweenJune andOctober. The average temperature on the coast is about 24° C, and inland about 27° C.
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