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About President Wade
 Abdoulaye Wade was elected President in 2000, at the age of 80 in his fifth attempt to win the office, having led the Democratic Party of Senegal (PDS) since 1974. His party won an overwhelming majority in parliamentary elections in April 2001, and again this year in municipal elections.
He served as Minister of State from 1991 to 1992 and from 1995 to 1998.
Wade is a lawyer by profession. He has published over 20 scholarly articles on economics, political science, and human rights. |
 Senegal
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| Official
Name: Republic of Senegal  |
| Geography
Area: 196,840 sq. km. (76,000 sq. mi.), about the size of South Dakota.
Cities: Capital --Dakar. Other cities --Diourbel, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Rufisque, Saint-Louis, Thies, Tambacounda, Ziguinchor.
Terrain: Flat or rising to foothills.
Climate: Tropical/Sahelian--desert or grasslands in the north, heavier vegetation in the south and southeast. |
| People
Nationality: Noun and adjective --Senegalese (sing. and pl.).
Population (2002 est.): 10 million.
Annual growth rate: 1.9%.
Ethnic groups: Wolof 43%; Fulani (Peulh) and Toucouleur 23%; Serer 15%; Diola, Mandingo, and others 19%.
Religions: Muslim 95%, Christian 4%, traditional 1%.
Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Serer, Diola, Mandingo, Soninke.
Education: Attendance --primary 75.8%, middle school 26.5%, secondary 11% (estimated). Literacy —50.7%.
Health: Infant mortality rate --69/1,000. Life expectancy --52 yrs.
Work force (4.0 million): Agriculture --70% (subsistence or cash crops). Wage earners (350,000): private sector 61%, government and parapublic 39%. |
| Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: April 4, 1960.
Constitution: March 3, 1963, last amended in 2001.
Branches: Executive --President (chief of state, commander in chief of armed forces). Legislative --National Assembly (single chamber with 120 deputies). Judicial --Constitutional Council (appointed by the president from senior magistrates and eminent academics and attorneys), Court of Final Appeals, Council of State.
Administrative subdivisions: 11 regions, 34 departments, 320 rural councils.
Political parties: 72 political parties are registered, the most important of which are the Democratic Party of Senegal (PDS), Socialist Party (PS), the Alliance of Forces for Progress (AFP), "AND JEF/PADS", the Union for Democratic Renewal (URD), “JEF JEL”, the National Democratic Rally (RND), and the Independence and Labor Party (PIT).
Suffrage: Universal adult, over 18.
Central government budget (2004): $887.5 billion African Financial Community (CFA).
Defense (2004 est.): $56.8 billion CFA.
National holiday: April 4, Independence Day. |
Economy
GDP (2002): $ 4.9 billion.
Real annual growth rate: 4.8%.
Per capita GDP (2003): $700. In terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) $1,510 (2002).
Natural resources: Fish, peanuts, phosphate, iron ore, gold, titanium, oil and gas, cotton.
Primary sector: Agriculture represents 19.2% of GDP. Products --peanuts, millet, sorghum, manioc, rice, cotton, vegetables and flowers, fruit.
Secondary sector: 20.7% of GDP, of which industry and mining represent 14% of GDP. Types --fishing; agricultural product processing; light manufacturing; mining including energy, oil mining, and construction.
Tertiary sector: 60.9% of GDP of which services represent 39.7% of GDP and trade 21.2% of GDP.
Trade (2002): Exports --$1.05 billion (fish products, peanut products, phosphate products). Major markets --France, other European Union, West African CFA zone. Imports --$1.85 billion (food, consumer goods, petroleum, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, computer equipment). Major suppliers --France, Nigeria, Cameroon, United States.
Exchange rate: Fixed to the euro. African Financial Community (CFA) 656 CFA =1 euro.
Economic aid received (2000): $361 million from all sources, $24.7 million from the U.S. |
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