Senegal
Sort: Country-Profiles Time : (2008-1-31 9:01:07)
The agriculture sector provides 20% of the GDP and about 70% of the population live in rural areas. As a matter of fact, the Senegalese economy strongly relies on harvests and pluviometry. The main crops are cereals, fruits, vegetables, sugar and above all groundnuts which are largely exported. Phosphates exploitation is an essential source of revenue in the country. Industrial sector is little diversified and is driven by chemical activities (phosphoric acid production), food-processing (groundnut oil) and textile. Services add up to 60% of the GDP and is in full boom, especially thanks to telecommunications and tourism.
Senegal is a member of Western African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and consequently applies its customs Common External Tariff (CET). Senegal's top three export partners are India, Grance and Mali. Its top three import partners are France, Nigeria and Thailand. Senegal mainly imports food-processing products (cereals), capital goods, chemicals and hydrocarbons.
Population
Population origin
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LanguagesOfficial language: French Spoken languages: The Wolof for most people, but there are also the Diola, the Poulaar, the Malink?and the Mandingue. If, in the East of Africa, the Swahili has developed as the common language, in Western Africa the predominant language is the old colon's languages, French, here. However, the Wolof is spoken and understood by several Senegalese. Dialects are numerous (at least 50, 15 of which are spoken by more than 15,000 people). It is to be noted that following the example of numerous essentially Muslim ethnies, the Wolofs and Madingues use the traditional Arab greetings (Salaam Aleikoum, Aleikoum Asalaam...) Business language: French and Wolof. Free translation tools in Senegal : Babel Fish Free French-English-French translation of texts and web pages |
ReligionReligious practises : mainly Islam (94 %), Christianity (5 %) and animism (1 %). |
Political systemSenegal is a Republic with a presidential regime. The President is elected by universal suffrage for 7 years and he has full executive power; he is assisted by his Prime Minister. The legislative power is held by the National Assembly, composed of 120 members elected by universal suffrage every years. Head of State: President Abdoulaye Wade (2000) Prime Minister : Idrissa Seck (PDS, 2002). |
Climate |
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| Capital: Dakar |
Tourism |
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Tourist sites-Dakar: the Presidencial Palace ; The National Assembly; the Cathedral ...... -Saint Louis and the Senegal river; the lake of Guiers; the national parks of Djoudj and the Barbary Tongue -Sine Saloum: the Saloum islands; Megalithic Sites. -Saly: beaches. -Casamance: the fields; the peghe; the rice harvest and the village under the cheese dairy. -Joal and Fadiouth: Jaoul beach. -Cayar: the pink lake -The Goree island: the slave's house For more information about tourism in Senegal , check out the following web site(s) : |
FoodTraditional dishesGroundnut and chicken soup Groundnuts Chicken Thebouidienne: fish with vegetables. In Senegal, this traditional dish is generally prepared with Tiof, a local fish. The hake is the most similar fish but it can be substituted by a light fish such as haddock, sea bream, conger etc. Usually, the fish is served in a service dish; the rice in another one and the cooking juice in a sauceboat. Chicken Yassa : it is the flavour of lime, garlic, and clove. It is usually served with rice in a service dish wich is placed in the centre of the table and the dinner guests eat it with their fingers. In Senegal, they stab every piece of meat with a chopper to make it more tender before it is marinaded. Time of preparation: less than 30 min. Coconut Cake: it is a kind of fritter. The fish is the main ingredient of the daily diet, chicken, lamb or beef are sometimes in the meals. Some gnu or wild boar grill can also be found on the restaurants menus.
Food-related taboosYou will not find any pork because 90% of the population is Muslim. |
