The history of Senegal is commonly divided into a number of periods, encompassing the prehistoric era, the precolonial period, colonialism, and the contemporary era.
Politics in Senegal takes place within the framework of a semi-presidential, democratic republic. The President of Senegal is the head of state and the Prime Minister of Senegal is the head of government. Executive power in Senegal is concentrated in the president's hands.
Predominantly rural, and with limited natural resources, the economy of Senegal gains most of its foreign exchange from fish, phosphates, groundnuts, tourism, and services. The agricultural sector of Senegal is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall and changes in world commodity prices. The former capital of French West Africa, is also home to banks and other institutions which serve all of Francophone West Africa, and is a hub for shipping and transport in the region.
The Senegal River is a 1,086 km (675 mi) long river in West Africa that forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania.
Dakar is the capital and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland. The city of Dakar proper has a population of 1,030,594, whereas the population of the Dakar metropolitan area is estimated at 2.45 million.
The President of Senegal is the head of state of Senegal. According to the 2001 Constitution, the president is elected for a 5-year term.
Macky Sall is a Senegalese politician who has been President of Senegal since April 2012. He was re-elected President in the first round voting in February 2019 Senegalese presidential election. Under President Abdoulaye Wade, Sall was Prime Minister of Senegal from April 2004 to June 2007 and President of the National Assembly (Senegal) from June 2007 to November 2008. He was the Mayor of Fatick from 2002 to 2008 and held that post again from 2009 to 2012.
Senegal is subdivided into 14 regions, each of which is administered by a Conseil Régional elected by population weight at the arrondissement level. Senegal is further subdivided into 45 departments, 103 arrondissements and by collectivités locales which elect administrative officers. Three of these regions were created on 10 September 2008, when Kaffrine Region was split from Kaolack, Kédougou region was split from Tambacounda, and Sédhiou region was split from Kolda.
The Senegal national football team, nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, is the national association football team of Senegal and is controlled by the Senegalese Football Federation.
The Prime Minister of Senegal is the head of government of Senegal. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Senegal, who is directly elected for a seven-year term. The Prime Minister, in turn, appoints the Senegalese cabinet, after consultation with the President.
The National Assembly is the unicameral legislature of Senegal. The Assembly was previously part of a bicameral legislature from 1999 to 2001 and from 2007 to 2012, with the indirectly elected Senate being the upper house. The Senate was abolished for a second time in September 2012.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) is the governing body of football in Senegal. It was founded in 1960, affiliated to FIFA in 1964 and to CAF in 1963. It organizes the national football league and the national team.
The cuisine of Senegal is a West African cuisine influenced by North African, French, and Portuguese cuisine and derives from the nation's many ethnic groups, the largest being the Wolof. Islam, which first penetrated the region in the 11th century, also plays a role in the cuisine. Senegal was a colony of France until 1960. Ever since its colonization, emigrants have brought Senegalese cuisine to many other regions.
Senegal has sent athletes to all Summer Olympic Games held since 1964. Unlike most surrounding nations, Senegal has never missed any Summer Olympics since its independence. Only once has the country won an Olympic medal: Amadou Dia Ba, who won a silver medal in the men's 400 metre hurdles in 1988. However, Abdoulaye Seye, representing France, won a bronze medal in the 200 metres in 1960, just two months after the short lived Mali Federation gained independence and a few days after Senegal seceded from the federation.
The FIBA Africa Women's Championship is the women's basketball continental championship of Africa, played biennially under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball, the basketball sport governing body, and the African zone thereof. The tournament also serves to qualify teams for participation in the quadrennial FIBA World Championship for Women and the Olympic basketball tournament.
Senegal–United States relations are bilateral relations between Senegal and the United States.
Russia–Senegal relations related to bilateral foreign relations between Russia and Senegal. Russian has an embassy in Dakar and Senegal has an embassy in Moscow.
Miss Senegal is a national Beauty pageant in Senegal.
India–Senegal relations are bilateral diplomatic relations between India and Senegal. India maintains an embassy in Dakar and Senegal in New Delhi. Although people to people contacts have been limited, the two countries enjoy warm relations and in recent years trade and investment have been increasing steadily.
