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Senegal
Overview
Country Overview
Senegal is bordered by Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Mauritania and encloses the confederated state of The Gambia. To the west lies the Atlantic Ocean. On the coast between Dakar and St Louis is a strip of shifting dunes. South of Dakar there are shallow estuaries along the coastline, fringed by palm trees.
Dakar, the capital, is a bustling modern city and major port with good restaurants and shops. There is an interesting boat ride to Gorée Island, a former slaving station.
St Louis, once Senegal’s capital, is another French fortified settlement from the days of slave trading. There are good beaches. A cruise lasting several days can be made up the Senegal River from here.
There are six national parks and four reserves in Senegal, particularly rich in birdlife. The best time for viewing is usually winter: Niokolo Koba and Djoudi are especially recommended.
Senegalese dishes include chicken au yassa (chicken with lemon, pimento and onions) and dem à la St Louis (stuffed mullet).
Traditional Senegalese festivals are held throughout the year. Cinemas tend to show the latest French language as well as local films.
General Information
Area: 196,722 sq km (75,955 sq miles).
Population: 9,278,617 (1999).
Population Density: 47.2 per sq km.
Capital: Dakar. Population: 1,488,941 (1992).
GEOGRAPHY: Senegal is bordered by Guinea Republic and Guinea-Bissau to the south, Mali to the east and Mauritania to the north, and encloses the confederated state of The Gambia. To the west lies the Atlantic Ocean. Most land is less than 100m (330ft) above sea level, except for the Fouta Djallon foothills in the southeast and the Bambouk Mountains on the Mali border. On the coast between Dakar and St Louis is a strip of shifting dunes. South of Dakar there are shallow estuaries along the coastline, which is fringed by palm trees. In the northern part of the country, south of the Senegal Basin, lies the arid Fouta Ferlo, a hot dry Sahelian plain with little vegetation.
Government: Republic since 1963. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Abdoulaye Wade since 2000. Head of Government: Prime Minister Idrissa Seck since 2002.
Language: The official language is French. There are many local languages, the principal one being Wolof. Other groups include Peul, Sener and Diola.
Religion: Around 94 per cent Muslim, four per cent Christian (mostly Roman Catholic with some Protestants), and a minority holds traditional beliefs.
Time: GMT.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 221. Outgoing international code: 00. Dial 17 (police) or 18 (fire brigrade) or 821 3213 (emergency medical services).
Mobile telephone
GSM 900. Main network providers include Sentel (website: www.millicom.com) and Sonatel (website: www.sonatel.sn).
Fax
Towns have ‘telecentres’ from which faxes can be sent. Sonatel (responsible for all telecommunications) has fax facilities. Some hotels also have fax machines.
Internet
ISPs include Telecom Plus (website: www.telecomplus.sn). There are Internet cafes in Dakar, Saint Louis and other major towns.
Telegram
There are facilities at main post offices and several hotels.
Post
Airmail to Europe takes between seven and ten days, and surface mail between two and six weeks.
Press
All newspapers are in French and nearly all are controlled directly by political parties.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Passport/Visa
| | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | | British | Yes | No | Yes | | Australian | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Canadian | Yes | No | Yes | | USA | Yes | No | Yes | | OtherEU | Yes | No | Yes | | Japanese | Yes | No | Yes |
PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least six months after date of entry required by all.
VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days;
(b) nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo (Rep), Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo and Tunisia for stays of up to 90 days;
(c) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.
Note: Applications from nationals of the following countries must be referred to the authorities in Dakar and will therefore take longer: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, China (PR), Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Guyana, Hong Kong (SAR), Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Korea (Dem Rep), Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Maldives, Mozambique, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saõ Tomé e Príncipe, Serbia (Yugoslavia), Slovak Republic, Sudan, Syria, Vietnam and Yemen.
Types of visa and cost: Entry: £3.15 (stays of one to 15 days); £7.35 (stays of 16 to 30 days); £10.50 (stays of up to three months). Cheques are not accepted.
Validity: Three months from the date of issue for stays of up to 90 days.
Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. The visa section at the Embassy of Senegal in London is open 0930-1300 for lodging and collection.
Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Two passport-size photos. (c) Two completed application forms. (d) Letter of invitation. (e) Self-addressed, stamped recorded delivery envelope for postal applications. (f) Evidence of return tickets. (g) Company letter for business trips.
Working days required: At least two days.
Money
Currency: CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (CFAfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000, 5000, 2500, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Senegal is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.
Credit & debit cards: American Express is the most widely accepted, although MasterCard, Diners Club and Visa have limited use. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: Travellers cheques are easy to cash in Dakar. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take them in Euros.
Currency restrictions: Import of local currency is unlimited; import of foreign currency is unlimited but subject to declaration. Export of local currency is restricted to CFAfr20,000. Export of foreign currency is limited to CFAfr50,000; for amounts exceeding this, the declaration issued on arrival must be presented.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the CFA Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date | May ’02 | Aug ’02 | Nov ’02 | Feb ’03 | | £1.00= | 1035.90 | 1025.70 | 1038.27 | 966.15 | | $1.00= | 710.84 | 674.41 | 656.55 | 606.78 |
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1100 and 1430-1600.
Duty Free
The following may be imported into Senegal by persons over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use; gifts up to the value of CFAfr5000.
Note: There is no free import of spirits.
Public Holidays
Nov 1 2002 All Saints’ Day. Dec 6-8 Korité (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 12 Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice). Mar 5 Tamkarit (Islamic New Year). Apr 4 Independence Day. Apr 21 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 14 Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday. May 29 Ascension. Jun 9 Whit Monday. Aug 15 Assumption. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 26-28 Korité (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 2 Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice). Feb 22 Tamkarit (Islamic New Year). Apr 4 Independence Day. Apr 12 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 2 Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday. May 20 Ascension. May 31 Whit Monday. Aug 15 Assumption. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 14-16 Korité (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas Day.
Note: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Korité (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Korité itself. Korité and Tabaski (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to ten days, depending on the region. For more information, see the World of Islam appendix.
Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | Yes | 1 | | Cholera | Yes | 2 | | Typhoid and Polio | 3 | N/A | | Malaria | 4 | N/A |
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required from travellers over one year of age coming from endemic areas. Enquire at nearest Embassy/Consulate prior to departure.
2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Senegal. However, cholera is a risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for more information.
3: Vaccination against typhoid is advised.
4: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists all year throughout the country; there is a lower risk in the central Western regions from January to June. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) is reported. Hepatitis A and E are widespread; hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Meningococcal meningitis risk exists, particularly during the dry season and in the savannah areas.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, see the Health appendix.
Health care: In Dakar, doctors are plentiful and most medicines are available. Up-country, however, facilities are minimal. Health insurance is essential.
Travel - International
AIR: Senegal’s national airline is Air Senegal (DS). Other airlines serving Senegal include Air Afrique, Air France, Alitalia and Iberia.
Approximate flight times: From Dakar to London is 7 hours 35 minutes, to New York is 8 hours 10 minutes and to Paris is 5 hours 30 minutes.
International airports: Dakar (DKR) (Leopold Sedar Senghor) is 17km (10.5 miles) northwest of the city (travel time – 25 minutes). Regular coach and bus services go to and from Dakar. Metered taxis are available. Airport facilities include duty-free shop, bar/restaurant, bank/bureau de change (0800-1400), post office (24 hours) and car hire.
Departure tax: None.
SEA: There are regular sailings from France, the Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain and several South American and West African ports. The main port is Dakar.
RAIL: There are two passenger trains (one Senegalese and one Malian) with restaurant and sleeping cars, running from Bamako, Mali, twice a week. The journey can take 30-36 hours. It is advisable to travel on the Senegalese train (well up to Western standards), rather than the Malian train (very basic indeed).
ROAD: Roads from Mauritania are tarred and in good condition; the best place to cross the border is at Rosso. Roads from Guinea-Bissau are not yet tarred; there is a border crossing at São Domingo. There is a route from Senegal to Mali via Tambacounda. There is access across the Sahara by a 5500km (2120-mile) road that runs from Algeria via Mali. The trans-Gambian highway crosses the River Gambia by ferry. There is a good network of buses and taxis running across the major borders.
Travel - Internal
AIR: Air Senegal runs services to all the main towns in Senegal. Gambia Air Shuttle offers flights from Dakar to Banjul (Gambia).
Departure tax: None.
SEA: It is often quicker to travel by sea than road. A boat operating on a weekly basis runs from Dakar to Ziguinchor (travel time – 20 hours). Sea shuttles depart regularly from Dakar harbour to the Île of Gorée. An excellent new service, L'Express du Senegal, links Dakar, Banjul and Ziguinchor. Fares tend to be high.
RAIL: The country has a network of about 1225km (761 miles) of rail track. Trains run from Dakar to towns en route for Bamako in Mali. There is also a service between Dakar and St Louis. There is an ongoing programme of upgrading and expansion. Children under three travel free. Children aged three to nine pay half fare.
ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. There are approximately 3900km (2423 miles) of asphalt roads linking the major towns and the coastal region. The network of roads in the interior is rough (about 10,400km/6460 miles in all) and may become impassable during the rainy season; it is not advisable to drive at night. There are often police checkpoints at the entrance and exit to villages to enforce speed restrictions; fines are paid on the spot. Bus: There are many buses available for short distances as well as mini-buses (known locally as car rapide) which are cheaper if less efficient. Fares are usually up to CFAfr100. Long-distance services operate subject to demand only. Taxi: Available in most towns and fares are metered with a surcharge of CFAfr100. Rates increase after midnight. It is cheaper to hail a taxi in the street than arrange to be collected from the hotel. Bush taxis and estate cars are good for journeys into the interior. Car hire: Companies are found in Dakar and the main towns. Documentation: A French or International Driving Permit and Green Card are required.
URBAN: Bus and minibus services operate in Dakar.
Accommodation
HOTELS: The government-controlled expansion of tourism has led to an increasing number of hotels. There are several of international standard, and more development is underway, including a number of hotels on the Petite Côte (the stretch of beaches between Dakar and Joal). In Casamance, some luxury resorts have been built. It is advisable to book accommodation in advance, particularly in Dakar where there is an increased demand during the tourist season, which lasts from December to May. Hotels in Dakar generally have air conditioning but tend to be expensive. In addition, visitors may choose the floating hotel in the River Region. Grading: Hotels are classified from 1 to 4 stars.
CAMPING: Government campsites (campements) provide a few beds, but no bedding. There are basic facilities for travellers who prefer to wander from the beaten track, although camping independently is strongly discouraged. Sometimes bungalows or grass huts are available; visitors must otherwise provide their own tents.
MISSIONS: Catholic missions will accommodate tourists only in cases of real need.
VILLAGE HUTS: A village will sometimes courteously offer a stranger one of the local huts as living accommodation, but it is necessary for visitors to provide their own bedding.
Introduction
DAKAR: A bustling modern city and major port situated at the tip of the Cap Vert peninsula. Dakar’s markets include the Kermel and the Sandaga, the former selling mainly fruit, fabrics, clothing and souvenirs, the latter being the city’s main fruit and fabrics market. The main museum is the Institut Fondemental d’Afrique Noir (IFAN), which has a collection of masks, statues and musical instruments from West Africa. Senegal’s Galérie Nationale is also worth a visit. The Palais Présidentiel (presidential palace) is a white building surrounded by luscious gardens. The Grande Mosquée, the city’s most famous mosque (noted for its minaret, which is lit at night), is closed to the public and located in Médina, which is off the tourist map. Dakar’s main beaches include the Plage Bel-Air and the cleaner and safer N’Gor and Yoff. Other good beaches within reach are Yenn and Toubab Dialao which are well known for their spectacular red cliffs.
Excursions: About 3km (1.8 miles) from the city lies the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Île de Gorée (Gorée Island), which used to be a slaving station and was one of the first French settlements on the continent. The island has many colonial-style houses and a small beach as well as two museums – the Maison des Esclaves (Slaves’ House) and the Historical Museum in the Fort d’Estrées. The Retba Lake (also called the Lac Rose or ‘Pink Lake’ due to its pink colouring) is a popular spot for picnics and weekend excursions. It is also the terminal for the Paris-Dakar motor rally.
ST LOUIS: A former slave settlement and once Senegal’s capital, St Louis is partly located on the mainland, partly on an island and partly on the Langue de Barbarie peninsula at the mouth of the River Senegal. The city reached its zenith in 1854, when Faidherbe undertook the unification of the country, which was still divided into small kingdoms at that time. Due to the expansion of Dakar, St Louis inevitably lost some of its importance, but it retains a nostalgic and provincial atmosphere reflected in its narrow streets flanked by beautiful colonial houses, balconies and verandas. The island can be reached via the Pont Faidherbe. There are some good beaches and a cruise lasting several days can be made up the River Senegal.
THE PETITE CÔTE: South of Dakar, the Petite Côte (Little Coast), which stretches for some 150km (94 miles), is one of Senegal’s best beach areas. The main tourist resorts in the area are Mbour and, slightly further north, Saly Portudal, which is set in a green park and has the highest concentration of luxury hotels as well as its own golf course.
SINÉ-SALOUM DELTA: Further south is the delta formed where the Siné and Saloum rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean. This wild region of mangrove swamps, dunes and lagoons is also Senegal’s main groundnut-growing basin. Located largely within the Parc National du Delta du Saloum, the delta’s myriad small islands are scattered between so-called bolongs (channels). The most popular mode of transport in this beautiful region is the pirogue (traditional African boat), which can take visitors to a number of nearby islands: some of the most beautiful include Guior, Guissanor, Saloum, Betani, the Île de Mars and Palmarin. The palm-fringed sandy beaches along the coast give way to dense vegetation populated by small villages of fishermen and groundnut farmers.
BASSE CASAMANCE: This fertile, swampy region borders The Gambia in the north and Guinea-Bissau in the south. However, travellers are advised to avoid this region while political instability continues. The resorts of Cap Skiring and Ziguindor are considered safe at present but check the political situation before visiting. Cap Skiring, the region’s main tourist hub, has countless hotels along what are generally considered the country’s best beaches. The region is well known for its traditional mud houses (also called impluvium), the most striking examples of which can be found in Affinam (on the north bank of the Casamance River) and Enampor. On the island of Karaban, the ruins of a Breton church and a colonial settlement are worth visiting.
National Parks
There are six national parks and four reserves in Senegal. The best time for visiting is usually between October and April. The Senegalese Ministry of Tourism advocates a strict nature preservation policy which invites tourists to respect the natural habitat. Accommodation is available, mostly in the form of campements or lodges. For further information, contact the Ministère de la Culture, du Tourisme et des Loisirs (see Contact Addresses section).
Parc National de Niokolo Koba: Occupying a total of 903,150 hectares (2,230,000 acres) and situated in the southeast, this is one of West Africa’s greatest reserves for large mammals. The park stretches over two geographical areas: the Sudanese savannah and the Guinea forest. Over 84 species live here, including Africa’s largest lions, elephants, panthers, crocodiles, a variety of antelopes and over 300 species of birds. Niokolo Koba can be reached by air (with a flight to Simenti and, from there, a two-hour drive); by road (from Dakar to Tambacounda on the RN1 and from there to the park on the RN7); or by train (two weekly trains from Dakar to Tambacounda). Visitors are not allowed to explore the park on foot. The park headquarters are in Tambacounda.
Parc National des Oiseaux de Djoudj: Situated in the northeast, 60km (37 miles) from St Louis, at the southern edge of the Sahara, this beautiful park has 40,000 acres of water stretches and is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the world. Its position makes it a favoured gathering place for migrating birds and a number of previously unknown bird species have recently been observed. Numerous organised tours are available from St Louis. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Parc National de Basse Casamance: This park is 60km (38 miles) from Ziguinchor in the extreme south of the country, and extends over some 4920 hectares (12,300) acres of forest and mangroves. Situated in a very rainy region, the park benefits from the luxuriance of the Guinea forest with its kapok trees, oil palms and imposing parinarias. Basse Casamance is famous for its tropical vegetation and variety of wildlife, including the Derry Eland and Buffoon Cob antelope, as well as many species of monkeys. It can be reached by plane or car from Dakar. The park headquarters are in Oussouye.
Parc National Langue de Barbarie: A narrow strip of sandy lands between the Atlantic and the River Senegal, this park is a refuge for birds and sea tortoises who come here to breed. Boat trips from St Louis are available.
Parc National du Delta du Saloum: Situated in the Saloum delta, 80km (50 miles) east of Kaolack, and extending over 72,000 hectares (180,000 acres). The landscape is characterised by small islands, sand dunes and swamps providing a perfect habitat for hundreds of bird species, including pelicans, storks and pink flamingoes.
Parc National de l’Île de la Madeleine: Situated west of Dakar, 3km (1.7 miles) from the coast, this small archipelago is a protected marine park of approximately 480 hectares (1200 acres). The rocky nature of the archipelago, thought to be of volcanic origins, has favoured the establishment of numerous colonies of sea birds.
Sport & Activities
Wildlife: The only place to see large mammals in Senegal is the Parc National de Niokolo Koba, although some species, such as elephants, are now extremely rare. Birdwatchers have more to be excited about – the parks and nature reserves in the coastal regions are renowned bird sanctuaries. Coastal parks often involve boat trips. For further details, see also National Parks in the Resorts & Excursions section or contact the Ministère de la Culture, du Tourisme et des Loisirs (see Contact Addresses section).
Watersports: There are plenty of good beaches, but swimming can be hazardous in some places; visitors are advised to enquire with their travel agent before booking a beach holiday. Good areas for swimming include N’Gor Beach, Hann Bay, Petite Côte and Casamance. Many hotels in the main tourist resorts have swimming pools. Underwater enthusiasts will find good diving waters all around the Cap Vert Peninsula, with Feb-Apr being the best months. Water-skiing facilities are available at Dakar alongside the ‘Children’s Beach’ on the lagoon between N’Gor and its island and at the Hanns Bay marinas. Windsurfing is possible, and both coastal and river Kayak trips can be arranged.
Music: West Africa has a strong musical tradition and Dakar is the best place to sample Senegal’s vibrant music scene. The capital has numerous established clubs and venues with frequent live performances. Details can be found in the local papers (written in French) or from the Ministère de la Culture, du Tourisme et des Loisirs (see Contact Addresses section). Villages also frequently put on musical performances for tourists.
Other: From May through November, Senegal offers excellent sports fishing. Organised trips are available from fishing centres and hotels along the coast.
The Senegalese are keen followers of traditional Senegalese wrestling. There are matches every Sunday at the Fass arena and in the suburbs or at the Iba Mar Diop Stadium near the Great Mosque. There is a 9-hole golf course at Camberene and miniature golf at Dakar-Yoff. Football is also very popular, and it is cool enough to jog.
Social Profile
Food & Drink: Senegalese food is considered among the best in Africa. The basis of many dishes is chicken or fish, but the distinctive taste is due to ingredients not found outside Africa. This food is served in many restaurants in Dakar. Provincial rest houses serve less sophisticated but delicious variations. Dishes include chicken au yassa (chicken with lemon, pimento and onions), tiebou dienne (rice and fish), dem à la St Louis (stuffed mullet), maffe (chicken or mutton in peanut sauce) and accras (a kind of fritter). Suckling pig is popular in the Casamance region.
There are bars in some hotels and clubs. Although Senegal is predominantly a Muslim country, alcohol is available. The traditional drink is mint tea, the first cup drunk slightly bitter, the second with more sugar and the third very sweet. The Casamance drink is palm wine, which is drunk either fresh or fermented. Toufam (a kind of yoghurt thinned with sugared water) is served in Toucouleur villages. A unique drink is home-roasted coffee with pimento.
Nightlife: There are several nightclubs and music venues in Dakar, playing ‘mbalakh’ (the local modern music), as well as a casino on the route to N’Gor. There are many cinemas showing the latest French films. The Daniel Sorano National Theatre in the Boulevard de la Republique is a popular venue for theatre, concerts and other arts performances.
Shopping: Bargaining is customary. At Soumbe-dionne, on the Corniche de Fann, is a craft village where the visitor can watch craftsmen at work and buy their handicrafts. Purchases include woodcarving in the form of African gaming boards, masks and statues; musical instruments; and metalwork, including copper pendants, bowls and statuettes. Most markets and centres sell traditional fabric, embroidery and costume, pottery, necklaces of clay beads and costume jewellery of wood or various seeds. Shopping hours: Generally Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1430-1800. Some shops open Sunday morning, others are closed Monday.
Special Events: Traditional Senegalese festivals are held throughout the year including a Fashion Show and National Festival of Arts in Dakar and the Saint Louis Jazz Festival (held in April/May). For more information, contact the Ministère de la Culture, du Tourisme et des Loisirs (see Contact Addresses section).
Social Conventions: Greetings are appropriate when coming across local people, especially in the bush, and the visitor should make the effort to learn these in one of the local languages. Handshaking on meeting, regardless of how many times a day one meets the person, is normal. When visiting a village, it is polite to call upon the village headman or schoolteacher to explain that you want to spend the night there or visit the area. They will often act as interpreter and will be helpful guides to the customs of the village and also in terms of money, ensuring that a traveller does not find himself in the embarrassing position of paying for hospitality that was given in friendship. Return hospitality with a gift of medicines, food or money for the community. It is not advisable to give money indiscriminately as tourists have encouraged the practice of begging. Casual wear is widely acceptable. Scanty swimwear should be reserved for the beach. Smoking is prohibited in some public places (especially mosques). Tipping: A service charge of ten to 15 per cent is included in all hotel and restaurant bills. Taxi drivers are not normally given a tip.
Business Profile
Economy: In a good year, Senegal is the world’s leading producer of groundnuts, which are the country’s key export commodity. The farming industry also produces millet, sorghum, maize, rice and vegetables for domestic consumption. Fishing is important both as a food source and an export earner: by the mid-1980s it had become the country’s largest single source of external revenue. The Government also accumulates revenues from the sale of fishing licences to other countries, mostly from the EU, and fish products have become an important export commodity, accounting for one third of total export earnings. Both faming and fisheries currently face severe problems: the former due to drought; the latter due to over-fishing by foreign fleets, which has depleted stocks and undermined the local industry. Exploitable mineral deposits are limited to phosphates (the chemical industry draws on sizeable deposits of lime phosphate and aluminium phosphate within Senegal); some iron ore and gold deposits have been identified, and there are thought to be oil deposits both on- and offshore.
Senegal is the most industrialised country in French West Africa after Côte d’Ivoire; but the country has yet to achieve self-sufficiency in basic foodstuffs, owing partly to its vulnerability to extreme weather conditions. The main industries – which are almost exclusively geared to domestic consumption – involve the processing of agricultural products and phosphates, milling, textiles, commercial vehicle assembly, food and drink, farming materials (implements, fertilisers), paint, asbestos, cement, printing and boat building. There is also, unusually in this part of Africa, a lively information technology sector.
Although the country remains dependent on foreign aid and its finances are weak, it has shown signs of recovery after a stagnant spell in the late 1990s. Current annual GDP growth is five per cent. In 1998, negotiations with the IMF led to the introduction of a Structural Adjustment Programme in exchange for financial support. Senegal is a member of the CFA Franc Zone and the West African trading bloc, ECOWAS. France is its major trading partner, followed by Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Spain and the USA.
Business: A lightweight suit is acceptable for business. French will generally be needed for meetings. Appointments should be made and punctuality is expected, despite the fact that a customer may be slightly late. Visiting cards are essential, preferably in French and English. The right hand should be used for shaking and to pass items. The period from July to October should be avoided for business visits, as many people are on holiday. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1230 and 1300-1600. During Ramadan, some offices open 0730-1430.
Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie et d’Agriculture de la Région de Dakar, BP 118, 1 place de l’Indépendance, Dakar (tel: 823 7189; fax: 823 9363; e-mail: cciad@telecomplus.sn; website: www.tpsnet.org/cciad/acceuil.htm).
Conferences/Conventions: A number of hotels and conference centres offer facilities. Further information can also be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of Senegal in Washington (see Contact Addresses section).
Climate
Senegal is favoured by a warm climate. The dry season runs from December through to May with cool trade winds in coastal areas. Throughout the rest of the year, a hot monsoon wind blows from the south bringing the rainy season and hot, humid weather. Rainfall is heaviest in Casamance and in the southeast and slight in the Sahelian region in the north and northeast, where temperatures tend to be higher.
History and Government
History: In medieval times, parts of Senegal belonged to the empires of Mali, Ghana and Songhai. The first Portuguese explorers arrived in the 15th century, followed by French colonists in the 17th century. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Senegalese coast was a major landing point for the transatlantic and European trades in ivory, gold and slaves. In 1763, Senegal was ceded to Britain as part of the settlement of the Seven Years War (which was a dispute over North American territories) but returned to the French in 1817. In 1895, Senegal was incorporated into French West Africa. After World War II, it became a French Overseas Territory.
Senegal achieved full independence in 1960 after a brief and unsuccessful attempt to establish a union with neighbouring Mali. Léopold Senghor became the country’s first president that year, and remained in office until 1981, when he was replaced by Abdou Diouf who went on to hold the post for almost two decades. National politics were monopolised by the Parti Socialiste Sénégalais (PSS) from 1960 until 2000, although Senegal was never formally a one-party state and opposition parties and the media managed to operate more or less effectively at least some of the time. That said, the current president, Abdoulaye Wade of the Parti Démocratique Sénégalais (PDS), who defeated Diouf in the March 2000 poll, spent several periods as a political prisoner and in exile. The PDS formed an alliance with the smaller Communist party, known as Sopi (Change), to fight the April 2001 national assembly elections which they won by an absolute majority. Madior Boye of the PDS was appointed Prime Minister, but was sacked in the autumn 2002. This followed the tragic sinking of the ferry Joola in September 2002 in which over 1100 people died. Africa’s worst maritime disaster, this had a profound impact upon the country. Boye’s replacement was Idrissa Seck, an experienced PDS political fixer and long-time ally of President Wade.
Apart from the economy (see Business Profile section), the most pressing domestic problem for the PDS government is the continuing strife in the Casamance region of southern Senegal. The secessionists of the Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces have been fighting the Dakar government since 1984: despite an accord signed with the Government in August 2001 (brokered by Guinea-Bissau), secessionist hard-liners have refused to give up the fight.
Foreign policy is dominated by relations with The Gambia which – bar a short coastal strip – is completely surrounded by Senegal. Developments in Gambia have had a profound effect on Senegalese politics, typified by the aftermath of the 1981 attempted coup against the Gambian Jawara government. The following year, the Senegambian Confederation was formed, with the two major objectives of mutually guaranteed security and, at some future date, economic and monetary union. The project was racked by disputes between the two governments, and was peacefully dissolved in 1989. Relations between the two were poor during the early 1990s, and the 1994 coup in Gambia brought little reaction from Senegal. The Senegalese have since established a good working relationship with the new Gambian regime and have enjoyed increasingly close ties with its other neighbours. These include Mauritania, with whom Senegal almost went to war in 1992 over a multi-faceted dispute involving cross-border trade, refugees and ethnic rivalries.
Government: The President holds executive power and is elected (since amendments made to the electoral code in 1991) for a maximum of two seven-year terms. The unicameral National Assembly, which has 120 elected members and a five-year term of office, is responsible for legislation.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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