History

Archaeological findings throughout the area indicate that Senegal was inhabited in prehistoric times. Since then, Senegal has had a varied cultural history of kingdoms, brotherhoods and colonial struggles, both between and against colonising powers.

Pre-Colonial Times

Eastern Senegal was once part of the Empire of Ghana. Islam, the dominant religion in Senegal, first came to the region in the 11th century. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the area came under the influence of the Mandingo empires to the east; the Jolof Empire of Senegal also was founded during this time. In the 16th century, the Jolof Empire split into four competing kingdoms: the Jolof, Waalo, Cayor and Baol kingdoms.

European Influence

Various European powers - Portugal, the Netherlands and England - all competed for trade in the area from the 15th century onward, until in 1677, France ended up in possession of what had become an important slave trade departure point - the infamous island of Gorée next to modern Dakar. It was only in the 1850s that the French began to expand their foothold onto the Senegalese mainland, at the expense of native kingdoms such as Waalo, Cayor, Baol and Jolof.

Independence

In January 1959, Senegal and the French Sudan merged to form the Mali Federation, which became fully independent on June 20, 1960, as a result of the independence and the transfer of power agreement signed with France on April 4, 1960. However, due to internal political difficulties, the Federation broke up on August 20. Senegal and the French Sudan (which was renamed the Republic of Mali) proclaimed independence, and Léopold Senghor was elected Senegal's first president in September 1960.

After the breakup of the Mali Federation, President Senghor and Prime Minister Mamadou Dia governed together under a parliamentary system. In December 1962, their political rivalry led to an attempted coup by Prime Minister Dia. Although this was put down without bloodshed, Dia was arrested and imprisoned, and Senegal adopted a new constitution that consolidated the president's power. In 1980, President Senghor decided to retire from politics, and he handed power over in 1981 to his handpicked successor, Abdou Diouf.

Senegal Under Diouf

Abdou Diouf was president between 1981 and 2000. He encouraged broader political participation, reduced government involvement in the economy and widened Senegal's diplomatic engagements, particularly with other developing nations. Domestic politics on occasion spilled over into street violence, border tensions and a violent separatist movement in the southern region of the Casamance. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia on February 1, 1982, although the union was dissolved in 1989.

Diouf served four terms as president. In the presidential election of 2000, opposition leader Abdoulaye Wade defeated Diouf in an election deemed free and fair by international observers. Senegal experienced its second peaceful transition of power, and its first from one political party to another.

Senegal Under Wade

On December 30, 2004, President Abdoulaye Wade announced that he would sign a peace treaty with the separatist group in the Casamance region. With recognised prospects for peace, refugees began returning home from neighbouring Guinea-Bissau. However, at the beginning of 2007, refugees began fleeing again, as the sight of Senegalese troops rekindled fears of a new outbreak of violence between the separatists and the government.