General Overview:

Senegal is bordered by the Republic of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in the south, Mauritania to the north and Mali to the east. Senegal encloses the tiny country of The Gambia.
To the west lies the Atlantic Ocean.

Coastline: 531 km

Capital: Dakar

Provinces: 10 regions – Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies and Ziguinchor

Population
10 580 307 (2003 est.)

Literacy rate: 40.2%

Religions:  94% Muslim, 5% Christian, 1% indigenous beliefs  

Ethnic Groups: Wolof 43.3%, Pilar 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, Lebanese and European and 9.4% other.

Official language: French. Main local language is Wolof.

Economy

Senegal, with the support of the international donor community undertook a bold economic reform program in 1994. The CAF franc was devalued by 50% and linked to the then French franc. Government price controls and subsidies steadily been dismantled all aiding in ensuring a turnaround in the economy. Investment in the economy has steadily grown and private activity now accounts for 82% of the GDP. Senegal does however face deep-seated problems of chronic unemployment and trade union militancy.

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc

Exports include  fish, cotton, peanuts, phosphates and petroleum products

Imports include  fuels, capital goods, food and beverages

Agricultural products include  rice, cotton, sorghum, tomatoes, green vegetables, millet, corn, peanuts, pigs, cattle, poultry and fish

Industries include petroleum refining, construction materials, phosphate mining, fish processing, fertilizer production, and agricultural processing

Natural Resources include iron ore, phosphates and fish

Political
Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 and became a Republic in 1963

Executive:
Chief of State – President Abdoulaye Wade since Apr 2000
Head of Government – Prime Minister Idrissa Seck since Nov 2002
Cabinet – Council of Ministers appointed in consultation with the president
Elections – president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. Prime Minister is appointed by the president

Legislative:

Unicameral National Assembly
Elections – last held on 29 Apr 2001

Judicial:
Constitutional Court, Council of State, Court of Appeals, Court of Final Appeals.
The Judicial system was reformed in 1992

Date of Independence:  
4 April 1960 (from France) complete independence achieved on 20 Aug 1960 after a dissolution of federation with Mali

Type of Government: Republic

Main Political Parties:  
African Party for Democracy and Socialism; African Party of Independence; Alliance of Forces of Progress; Democratic and Patriotic Convention; Democratic League-Labour Party Movement; Front for Socialism and Democracy; Gainde Centrist Bloc; Independence and Labour Party; National Democratic Rally; Senegalese Democratic Party; Socialist Party; SOPI Coalition; Union for Democratic Renewal.

Last presidential elections : last held on 29 Apr 2001

South Africa /Senegal Relations
Representative offices were established in November 1993 in Pretoria and Dakar.
Full diplomatic relations were established on 6 May 1994.
After having closed its Embassy in Pretoria in December 1995, the Senegalese authorities re-established an Embassy in Pretoria during 2001. 
Senegal's current Ambassador to South Africa is H E Mr. Samba Mbouri Mboup.

Agreements between South African and Senegal
Bilateral Air Services Agreement – 1 August 1996.
Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments Agreement – 19 June 1998.
Merchant Shipping Agreement – Being considered

Senegal public holidays

New Years Day	1 January
Armed Forces Day	20 January
Tabaski (feast of sacrifice)	12 February
Day of Democracy	26 March
Easter  Monday	21 April
Labour Day	1 May
Mawloud (Prophet’s birthday)	14 May
Africa Day	25 May
Independence Day	22 September
Korite (end of Ramadan)	26-28 November
Christmas Day	25 December

*Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of the various phases of the moon and therefore dates change accordingly every year.

More General Information

Local Time: GMT

Electrical Power: Electric current is 220v. 50 Hz in Dakar

Electrical plugs are the Continental type (two prongs)

Weather:
There are two main seasons:
June to October is the rainy season with temperatures ranging from 31 to 36 degrees Celsius
October to June is a dry season with the average temperatures ranging from 20 to 28 degrees Celsius.

Credit Cards:
Visa cards are the most widely used cards but American Express, Cirrus and Master Card can also be used.

Travellers Cheques:
Travellers cheques are easy to cash in Dakar. To avoid additional charges, travellers cheques should be in Euros.

Banking hours: Mon to Fri 0800-1100 and 1430-1600

Currency Exchange: The CFA franc is the unit of currency and you can exchange currency at the airport, banks and major hotels.

Housing:
Dakar has a number of real estate agencies.

Régie immobilière Mugnier & Cie

11, rue Mohamed V.
Tel: 823 4374
Agence immobilière Hortala
4, rue Sandiniéry
Tel: 823 2448

Television:
With “Antenne TV 5” or Mmds antenna you can receive a number of TV stations including TV 5

Press:
All newspapers are in French. However, foreign newspapers and magazines can be bought at the Aux Quatre vents and ClairAfrique bookstores or at most newsstands./www.senegalpost.com/

Telephones:
The country code dial code is 221 and the outgoing international code is 00.  The Société nationale de télécommunications (Sonatel) is responsible for telephone service subscriptions.onatel.sn

Internet:
There are Internet cafes in Dakar, Saint Louis and other large towns. ISPs include Telecom Plus www.telecomplus.sn

You can also get an Internet and email account by contacting one of the following companies;

Sonatel Médina
Av. Malilck Sv x Blaise Diagne
Tel: 821 9914

Sentoo
Rue Amadou A. Ndoye x Dr Thèze
Tel: 823 4866

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Please note that these listings serve only as a guideline to assist people planning on visiting Senegal and the Embassy is in no way associated with any of these establishments.