Updated February 22, 2019
Senegal
Senegal has remained stable but poor since independence
Figure 1. Senegal at a Glance
from France in 1960. Its population is largely Muslim. A
separatist conflict in the southern Casamance region has
impeded development there, but violence has dropped in
recent years. Senegal is a democracy with a relatively free
press and civil society; it has never experienced a military
coup. Tensions have nonetheless risen ahead of presidential
elections slated for February 24, 2019, and local activist
groups have come under increased government pressure.
Despite Senegal’s positive record on governance and recent
growth, economic frustrations are widespread and the
country is a top source of illicit migration to Europe. U.S.-
Senegal ties have long been warm, underpinned by U.S.
development aid, appreciation for Senegalese democracy,
and security cooperation to confront regional challenges.
Politics

In his first term, President Macky Sall has prioritized
Source: CRS graphic. Data from CIA World Factbook + IMF (2018).
economic reforms and peace talks in Casamance. He has

struggled to meet expectations of rapid job creation, and his
Foreign Relations
coalition’s cohesion has come under growing strain as
Senegal has long cultivated close relations with Western
former allies jockey for position ahead of elections. Sall
donors—especially former colonial power France and the
was first elected in 2012, defeating Abdoulaye Wade (a
United States. Over the past two decades, Senegal’s leaders
former mentor), whose attempt to run for what would have
have also pursued expanded ties with China and Arab Gulf
been a third term provoked unrest. Sall’s victory and
states. Relations with Iran warmed under former President
Wade’s peaceful concession ultimately quelled concerns
Wade, but Senegal cut ties between 2011 and 2013 after
about Senegal’s democratic credentials. New concerns have
accusing Iran of shipping arms to Casamance rebels. In
now arisen regarding the appearance of political influence
2015, Senegal pledged to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia-led
over the 2019 election process.
military operations in Yemen, but it has yet to do so.
Sall is running for reelection against four challengers,
In 2016, Israel, which had cultivated growing ties with
including former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck, and political
Senegal, recalled its ambassador and halted aid in the wake
newcomer Ousmane Sonko. The Constitutional Council
of Security Council Resolution 2334 (regarding Israeli
rejected at least 22 other candidates. The two most
settlements), which Senegal co-sponsored. President Sall
prominent—Karim Wade, son of former president
and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced
Abdoulaye Wade, and Khalifa Sall, the former elected
in mid-2017 that they had overcome the rift.
mayor of Dakar (no relation to the president)—were barred
In 2017, Senegal played a key role in ousting the erratic and
because of corruption convictions. Some critics view these
authoritarian leader of neighboring Gambia, Yahya
as politically motivated; former president Wade has called
Jammeh, in favor of a democratically-elected successor,
for a vote boycott. Karim Wade has been in exile since
Adama Barrow. Senegalese troops remain deployed in
President Sall ordered his release from jail in 2016, while
Gambia under a regional mandate. Senegal’s interests are
Khalifa Sall has been jailed since 2017. Other candidates
partly driven by past Gambian support for Casamance
were deemed ineligible because they had not obtained the
rebels under Jammeh.
requisite number of citizen signatures required under a
controversial election law enacted in 2018. The vote will go
The Economy
to a run-off if no candidate wins over 50%. Sall’s first term
Although Dakar is large and economically vibrant, Senegal
has lasted seven years, but a constitutional referendum in
is mostly agrarian, with limited natural resources, arable
2016 shortened the term to five.
land, and fresh water. More than a third of the population
Legislative elections in 2012 and 2017 delivered large
lives in poverty, and recent economic growth has not
majorities to Sall’s coalition. The elections were broadly
substantially lowered this rate. The country is heavily
viewed as free and fair, although the U.S. State Department
reliant on imports for basic foodstuffs and energy supplies.
noted reports of “significant irregularities” in 2017, as well
Food insecurity is persistent and widespread, and nutrition
as “arrests that many perceived as arbitrary and politically
shortfalls contribute to high child and maternal mortality
motivated.” Opposition parties had made big gains in 2014
rates. Socioeconomic discontent drives high rates of
local elections, including in Dakar.
emigration and periodic urban unrest.
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Senegal
Key foreign exchange earners include exports of fish,
Internal Conflict. The separatist conflict in Casamance has
peanuts, and phosphates; tourism; and remittances from
waxed and waned since the early 1980s. The area is
Senegal’s proportionately large diaspora. Oil and gas
ethnically and religiously distinct and geographically cut
deposits have been discovered in recent years, but
off from northern Senegal by Gambia (although a new
production is not expected to begin for several years. Some
bridge spanning the Gambia river may help with
Senegalese fear that the nascent energy sector could fuel
integration). Rebel activity has caused population
corruption and/or debt.
displacement and hurt the economy in Casamance, a
potential tourism destination and agricultural breadbasket.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and bilateral
donors have praised Sall’s “Emerging Senegal Plan,” which
The rebellion has long been internally fragmented, and
combatants reportedly engage in banditry and trafficking
pairs increased public investment in infrastructure with
activities. The Sall administration has pursued peace talks
structural reforms. Average annual economic growth, which
and violence has decreased since a spike in 2009. The peace
stood at 3.4% between 2006 and 2012, has risen to 6.1% in
process has received periodic U.S. support.
the years since Sall’s election, according to IMF data. The
IMF reported in early 2019 that Senegal’s main challenge
U.S. Relations and Aid
was sustaining high growth while avoiding large deficits
and “improving the business environment to create jobs for
In a 2018 fact sheet, the State Department characterized
Senegal as “an important partner of the United States in
the fast-growing population.” According to the State
promoting peace and security in Africa.”
Department’s investment climate statement
It also praised
s, “Investors cite
Senegal’s democracy, religious tolerance, and troop
high factor costs, bureaucratic hurdles, inadequate access to
contributions to peacekeeping missions. The Trump
financing, and a rigid labor market as obstacles,” though
“t
Administration has otherwise made few public statements
he government is working to address these problems.”
about bilateral ties. President Obama met with President
Security Issues
Sall twice, at the White House and on an official visit to
Senegal, where he lauded President Sall’s “ambitious
Terrorism. Senegal has not suffered a major terrorist attack
reforms… to strengthen democratic governance.”
on its soil, but it is vulnerable to extremist infiltration and
recruitment. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and
Senegal “shares many fundamental values and international
linked groups such as the Mali-based Group for Supporting
goals with the United States, and it has set an example of
Islam and Muslims (known as JNIM after its transliterated
Arabic name) have staged attacks in nearby countries,
democratic rule as well as ethnic and religious tolerance.” –
including ones that have targeted Westerners in Mali,
State Department fact sheet, October 31, 2018
Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire. AQIM and JNIM have

also threatened to attack countries, such as Senegal, that
The United States is among Senegal’s top bilateral donors.
participate in the U.N. peacekeeping operation in Mali;
The U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreed
Senegalese soldiers serving in Mali have been killed in
in December 2018 to provide $550 million over five years
attacks. Senegal hosts potential soft targets: its beaches and
to “increase economic growth and reduce poverty through
cultural sites draw Western tourists, and Dakar is a regional
improved access to electricity.” The government of Senegal
hub for international agencies and diplomats. Commercial
has pledged an additional $50 million to the project. It is
airlines fly directly between Dakar and the United States.
Senegal’s second MCC compact; the first, completed in
2015, provided $540 million for infrastructure
The local appeal of extremist Islamist ideology has
improvements to boost agricultural productivity.
historically been considered low. News reports nonetheless
U.S. bilateral aid (separate from MCC funding) totaled
suggest that individual Senegalese nationals have joined
$116 million in FY2017 (latest available), aimed at
Islamist armed groups in Mali, Nigeria, and farther afield.
improving health, education, food security, economic
In 2015, authorities detained dozens of local imams for
growth, good governance, and military capacity. Senegal is
allegedly supporting terrorism; several were convicted in
2018 of recruiting “foreign fighters” and/or seeking to
a focus country for the President’s Malaria Initiative and
Feed the Future initiative, both launched under previous
establish a local Islamic State affiliate. In 2016, authorities
Administrations. U.S. regional and global programs have
arrested hundreds of people as part of a crackdown related
provided additional funding, e.g., in support of
to the Mali and Burkina Faso attacks. In 2017, authorities in
counterterrorism and peacekeeping.
Dakar arrested two suspected Islamist foreign fighters with
reported ties to the Côte d’Ivoire attackers
Defense ties have expanded due in part to Senegal’s
.
strategic location and military professionalism. The U.S.
Organized Crime. According to the State Department,
Defense Department conducts regular exercises in Senegal
Senegal is a transit point for the trafficking of cocaine from
and has provided counter narcotics and maritime security
South America to Europe. Cannabis is also cultivated in
aid. In 2016, the two countries signed an agreement to
Casamance for domestic and regional markets. The drug
facilitate U.S. military access to the sub-region. The same
trade may leverage networks used to smuggle duty-free
year, the United States transferred two Libyan Guantánamo
cigarettes, counterfeit medications, small arms, and
detainees to Senegal for resettlement. In 2014, Senegal
migrants. Senegalese law enforcement is considered more
hosted a logistics hub for the U.S. military deployment to
effective than in many other West African countries—as is,
help contain the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
arguably, Senegal’s political will to counter drug
trafficking—but resource and capacity shortfalls
Alexis Arieff, aarieff@crs.loc.gov, 7-2459
nonetheless hinder efforts to counter transnational crime.
IF10164
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