Short outline of the history of Senegal

Kingdoms and empires: several empires followed one another until the 16^th century. It was initially the empire of Ghana founded by Soninkés which lasted three centuries: from the 8^th century to the 11^th century, then the empire of Mali carried out by Manding of High Niger between the 13^th century and 15^th century and finally the Songhay empire which dominated from the 15^th to the 16^th century all the soudano-sahelien part from Senegal to Niger.

The empire of Jolof, which lasted three and a half centuries: from 1200 to 1550, is an important moment for the history of Senegal. The kingdom Djolof, the core of current Senegal, was founded in 13^th-14^th century by Ndiadian Ndiaye and ended in 1549. This king gathered the wolof tribes and his kingdom became a vast empire whose territory extended on all current Senegal.

The Portuguese navigators arrived in 1443 to Senegal river and settled in Gorée island where they practise the trade of gold and slaves to develop their colony in Brazil. Other counters are established gradually by other nations, in particular Dutch, English and French ones in Saint-Louis in 1659 and in Gorée in 1677. By the 1763 treaty, the English obtained the transfer by the French of all their Senegalese establishments except for Gorée. In 1779, France is restored in Saint-Louis. In 1809, the English took Senegal again, but by the treaty of Paris of 1814, they restored all the establishments which they had into 1783, remaining present on the grounds.

The towns of Saint-Louis and Gorée, taken again into 1817 counted nearly 10.000 inhabitants among which there were local middle-class of catholic mongrels or “inhabitants”, traders and landowners who received political rights in 1848. Only the main culture shaped, the other culture attempts failed all. The prohibition of slavery in 1818, then its abolition in 1848 involved the decline of Gorée, consequently Saint-Louis had Arabic influence.

The governor of Senegal, Faidherbe, between 1845 and 1860 and then from 1863 to 1867 established the communication between Saint-Louis and Dakar, encouraged the main culture and founded schools. The international conference of Berlin (1884-1885) devoted the French presence to Senegal, and France gave up the counter of Albreda on Gambia in 1857. In 1890, Senegal already consisted of its current borders.

Only the inhabitants of the Four communes were considered as French citizens and in1848 they could elect a deputy to represent them with the French Room. Out of these urban zones, the Senegalese were French individuals, without civic rights. In 1895, the governor of Senegal became the general governor of Western French Africa (AOF). In 1904, the borders with Sudan and Mauritania were fixed.

The economy developed, particularly by great work: for instance, the Dakar-Saint-Louis railroad was completed in 1896. The main culture intensified in spite of the crisis and the vain attempts to diversify the agricultural produce. Senegal took an active part in the two world wars with the famous Senegalese riflemen who gathered warriors who came from different parts of the AOF.

On January 30, 1944, the conference of Brazzaville counted on the participation of the colonies in the Constitutional Assembly. The two socialist deputies of Senegal, Rolls Gueye and Léopold Sedar Senghor played an important role at this assembly. In May 1946, Lamine Gueye obtained the citizen statute for all the inhabitants of the colonies. The Constitution of 1946 recognized the right to manage itself as a local authority within the French Union. Senghor became Secretary of the State in the Edgar Faure cabinet from 1955 to 1956.

The law tallies voted in April 1957, descentralized administrative institutions, granting semi–autonomy to the overseas territories which preceeded independence. By referendum of September 28, 1958, Senegal chose the autonomous statute of Republic and sought to form a federation with other states of the AOF. Following the negotiations opened in Paris in January 1960, French Senegal and Sudan became fully independent on June 20, 1960 under the name of “federation of Mali”, but the diffrences between these two countries caused its bursting in August 1960.

In September 1960, President Senghor is elected President of the Republic. After having integrated some members of the opposition and constrained the others to the exile, President Senghor felt strong enough to authorize the foundation of three parties of opposition in 1974 while the BDS became a socialist party. In foreign politics, President Senghor endeavoured to play a moderating part and maintained close links of co-operation with France. On January 1, 1981, he resigned and transmitted the power to the Prime Minister, Abdou Diouf.

President Abdou was elected in 1983. The 1988 elections enhanced the party of President Abdou Diouf again.

In Casamance, from 1982, the power faced a separatist rebellion (MFDC).

During the 1990s, Me Wade was associated to the government twice. In 2000, the presidential poll allowed the victory of Abdoulaye Wade with 58% of the votes.