April 1, 2015
Senegal
Senegal has remained relatively stable but poor since it
Figure 1. Senegal at a Glance
gained independence from France in 1960. It is an electoral
democracy and one of the few countries in West Africa
never to have experienced a military coup d’état. A low-
level conflict in the southern region of Casamance has
impeded development, but violence in that area has
decreased in recent years. Senegal’s leaders are influential
in Francophone African diplomatic circles, and its military
is active in global peacekeeping. The population is mostly
Muslim. While ethnic and sectarian divisions exist, they
play less of a role in politics than in many other West
African countries.
Donor assistance, reforms, and new infrastructure have
facilitated economic growth in recent years, but poverty
remains widespread. Wealth creation has also been uneven
and concentrated in the capital, Dakar. Food insecurity is a
persistent problem, and nutrition shortfalls contribute to

high child and maternal mortality rates.
Politics
President Macky Sall was elected in 2012, defeating
incumbent Abdoulaye Wade, who had been president since
Senegal is a multiparty democracy with a political system
2000. In the lead-up to the vote, Wade’s controversial
that endows the presidency with broad authorities. It boasts
attempt to run for what would have been a third term
a relatively free media environment and an active and
provoked protests and rioting. Sall’s electoral victory and
independent civil society. Senegalese youth activists have
Wade’s peaceful concession quelled concerns regarding
advised protest movements in other African countries,
Senegal’s political stability. Political tensions have since
including Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of
risen again in connection with the prosecution of Wade’s
Congo.
son, Karim, for alleged large-scale corruption during
Wade’s presidency (see below).
President Sall has prioritized administrative reforms, anti-
corruption efforts, and peace talks in Casamance. He has
Successive U.S. Administrations have portrayed Senegal as
promised (as Wade initially did) to serve no more than two
a democratic leader in Africa, a focus country for U.S.
terms in office, per constitutional term limits. He has also
global development initiatives, and a partner in efforts to
pledged to reduce the presidential term from seven to five
counter transnational security threats in the sub-region.
years, possibly via a referendum. (Wade re-extended the
President Sall was among four African heads of state who
term to seven years during his second term after first
met with President Obama at the White House in March
shortening it to five.) Despite his initial popularity, Sall has
2013. President Obama visited Senegal in June 2013. In
struggled to satisfy public expectations of rapid economic
Dakar, he stated that “we were inspired by the citizens of
growth and job creation. Some of his economic austerity
Senegal” during the 2012 elections that brought Sall to
measures may have contributed to near-term hardships.
office. He also commended Sall for “the ambitious reforms
that you're pursuing to strengthen democratic governance.”
Legislative elections in 2012 delivered a large majority to
Sall’s coalition, “United in Hope.” However, its internal
Congress has shaped U.S. policy toward Senegal through its
cohesion has come under growing strain. Many key
appropriation of foreign assistance and its oversight
coalition figures are viewed as potential rivals, having
activities. The U.S. embassy in Dakar is the third largest in
backed Sall in 2012 solely in order to defeat Wade. Sall’s
Africa, and the United States is among Senegal’s top
party, the Alliance for the Republic, saw large losses in
donors. U.S. bilateral aid totaled $118 million in FY2014,
2014 local elections, including in key constituencies such as
and Senegal is the beneficiary of a five-year, $540 million
Dakar, which some observers interpreted as a sign that
U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact
Sall’s political clout may be declining.
that came into force in 2010 (see “U.S. Assistance” below).
In 2014, Senegal served as a logistical hub for the U.S.
A key element of Sall’s anti-corruption agenda is the trial of
response to the West Africa Ebola outbreak.
Karim Wade, who held a number of ministerial portfolios
prior to 2012. In March 2015, he was convicted of illicit
enrichment and sentenced to six years in prison and a hefty
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Senegal
fine. He is expected to appeal. Former President Wade has
Organized Crime. Senegal is a transit point for global
portrayed the trial as politically motivated and questioned
narcotics trafficking, notably for cocaine en route to Europe
its legality. He has also organized protests in Dakar. Some
from South America. The drug trade may leverage
opposition supporters were arrested in connection with
networks that are used to smuggle duty-free cigarettes,
recent protests, prompting Wade to accuse the government
counterfeit pharmaceuticals, small arms, and migrants.
Although Senegal’s law enforcement agencies are
of repressing the opposition’s civil liberties. Wade’s actions
considered more effective than those of many other West
may be aimed at forcing the government to abandon the
African countries, their resources and capacity are often
Karim prosecution and at undermining Sall’s legitimacy
insufficient to address transnational criminal activity.
ahead of the next elections (presently expected in 2019).
Internal Conflict. A low-level separatist conflict has
The Economy
waxed and waned in the southern region of Casamance for
over 30 years. The area is ethnically and religiously distinct
Although Dakar is a large and economically vibrant city,
and geographically cut off from much of Senegal by the
Senegal is a predominantly agrarian country with few
Gambia, a separate country. Despite a 2004 peace accord,
natural resources and limited arable land. Key sources of
violence spiked in 2009 as the rebel movement splintered.
foreign exchange include exports of fish, peanuts, and
Combatants have also reportedly engaged in banditry and
trafficking, including of arms, narcotics, and timber. Since
phosphates; tourism; and remittances from Senegalese
2012, the Community of Sant’Egidio, a Rome-based lay
workers abroad. Socioeconomic discontent has contributed
organization of Catholics, has mediated new talks, with
to a high rate of emigration and has sparked occasional
some U.S. financial and diplomatic support. These
demonstrations and rioting in urban areas.
produced a cease-fire and humanitarian agreements in 2014.
While the violence remains locally contained, it has caused
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that
population displacements and hurt the economy in
Senegal’s economy grew by 4.5% in 2014 and projects
Casamance, a former tourism destination.
growth will reach 4.6% in 2015. Unemployment and
poverty remain widespread, however. Obstacles to private
U.S. Assistance
sector development include bureaucratic red tape, rigid
labor laws, chronic electricity shortages, insufficient
Senegal is a focus country for several U.S. global aid
judicial independence and efficiency, and opaque land
initiatives, including Feed the Future and the President’s
Malaria Initiative. Bilateral appropriations for U.S.
titling procedures. The IMF has called for measures to
economic and security assistance totaled $118 million in
improve the business environment and “a deep reform of
FY2014, with programs aimed at improving health, basic
the state,” adding that government expenditures continue to
education, agricultural development, economic growth,
jeopardize “fiscal sustainability.” Observers have praised
environmental conditions, democratic governance, and
the Sall government’s ambitious reforms plan, “Emerging
military professionalism. (Estimated FY2015 allocations
Senegal,” while noting potentially challenging conditions
are not yet available.) The Administration is requesting that
for implementation. In March 2015, the government halted
Congress appropriate $102 million for bilateral aid to
a plan for Dakar to issue a U.S.-backed municipal bond,
Senegal in FY2016. Additional funding is provided through
citing concerns over the city’s indebtedness; political
the MCC—which is supporting several large transportation,
tensions between the city government and the Sall
irrigation, and water management infrastructure projects—
and through U.S. regional and global programs. The United
administration may have been another factor.
States has also provided funding for a Senegal-based
Security Issues
special court that is expected to try former Chadian dictator
Hissène Habré for crimes against humanity.
Terrorism. Senegal has yet to suffer a terrorist attack, but
U.S. security assistance includes training, equipment, and
the country is vulnerable to extremist infiltration and
logistical support for Senegalese peacekeepers, provided
recruitment. Senegal hosts potential soft targets: its beaches
largely through the State Department’s Africa Contingency
and cultural sites draw Western tourists, and Dakar is a
Operations Training and Assistance program. Senegal is
regional hub for diplomats, U.N. offices, and international
likely to receive more advanced military equipment as a
humanitarian groups. Commercial airlines also fly directly
focus country for the U.S. African Peacekeeping Rapid
between Dakar and the United States. Violent Islamist
Response Partnership, which the White House launched in
August 2014. Senegal also participates in U.S. regional
extremist networks, including Al Qaeda in the Islamic
counterterrorism programs, including the State Department-
Maghreb (AQIM) and its splinter factions, have carried out
led, multi-year Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism
attacks across North and West Africa, and they occupied
Partnership, which works with 11 North and West African
parts of neighboring Mali in 2012. French-led military
states. The Defense Department has conducted joint and
operations have killed or captured some AQIM
multinational exercises in Senegal and has provided
commanders in Mali and reportedly disrupted their
additional counternarcotics and maritime security
logistical networks. However, these groups have not been
assistance.
eradicated. AQIM and its offshoots have threatened to
attack countries, such as Senegal, that have troops in the
Alexis Arieff, aarieff@crs.loc.gov, 7-2459
U.N. peacekeeping operation in Mali; several Senegalese

soldiers have been killed in Mali in extremist attacks.
IF10164
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