Figure 1.--This French colonial postcard was sent from Dakar, Senegal in 1908. The photo shows a Susu (in French Soussou) family and was taken in Senegal or in neughboring Guinea, another French colony where the Susu lived. This is a good example as tonhow European colonislism created borders which divided tribal groups. The image shows the first change of traditional African clothing. The family here is wearing European (probanly French) produced cotton cloth, not hope spin fabrics. One of the purpose of colonies were to guarantee markets for manufactured goods. The second change took place later with the with the trade of western-style clothing.

The Sahara Desert has been a major barrier between Europe and most of Africa. Trade routes in ancient times led north across the Sahara to the Roman Empire, but there were no known direct trade contacts. The medieval Mali, Ghana and Songhai Empires all included pars of modern Senegal. Senegal came in direct contact with Europe when Portuguese navigators began sailing south along the coast of Africa to find a trade route east (15th century). They were soon followed by other Europeans seaking trade with the East. Spain conceded Portugues jurisdiction but the other Europeans (Dutch, English, and French) did not. The Europeans were actively primarily along the coast where they set up trading posts. The principal interest in Senegal was trade--ivory, gold and slaves. The Senegalese coast became a major landing point for the developing Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Gorée developed as a main entrepôt of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Eventually the French established a dominant position (by 1659). In the 19th century scramble for Africa, Senegal became a French colony. The French incorporated Senegal into French West Africa (1895). It was France's most important colony in West Africa. The colony was ruled without in local government. After World War II, Senegal became a French Overseas Territory. The French finally established a territorial assembly (1946). France gradually expanded the authority of that assembly. France attempted to hold on to its colonial empire after the War, but the Viet Nam War and the Algerian War changed French policy. France granted independence (1960). Senegal seceded from the newly created Federation of Mali. Leopold Sedar Senghor was the first president. He served as president for two decades. National politics were monopolised by the Parti Socialiste Sénégalais (PSS) He was followed by Adbou Diouf, who has held onto the office ever longer than Senghor. Parliament passed a law permitting him to be president for life (1998). This proved to be a short-lived attempt. PPS rule was ended by a democratic movement--Sopi (Change) (2001-02). Senegal has been more stable since independence than many African countries. There is a separtist movement in the heavily Muslim north.

Geography

Senegal is a West African country fronting in the Atlantic Ocean. It is the westernmost point in Africa where the continent bulges out into the Atlantic Ocean. Senegal is a low-lying country without majour mountans. The Sahara Desert has been a major barrier between Europe and most of Africa. Thus the north and northeast is a semi-desert area. There are forests in the southwest. The largest rivers are the Senegal in the north and the Casamance in the southern tropical climate region. The British carved another river, the Gambia, out of Senegal to create a separate colony and now country--Gambia. The rivers provided the transport route for transporting goods from the interior to the coast once the Europeans arrived.

Ancient Era

Trade routes in ancient times led north across the Sahara to the Roman Empire, but there were no known direct trade contacts.

Medieval Era

The medieval Mali, Ghana and Songhai Empires all included pars of modern Senegal.

European Trade and Empires

Senegal came in direct contact with Europe when Portuguese navigators began sailing south along the coast of Africa to find a trade route east (15th century). They were soon followed by other Europeans seaking trade with the East. Reaching Cap Vert was the first major achievement bof Portuguese navigators. Spain conceded Portugues jurisdiction as part of a papal mediation wgich gave most of the America to Spain. The other Europeans (Dutch, English, and French) did not acceptvthe papal decesion. The Europeans were actively primarily along the coast where they set up trading posts. The principal interest in Senegal was trade--ivory, gold and slaves. The Senegalese coast became a major landing point for the developing Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Slave Trade

Senegal was affected by both the Arab Trans-Saharan slave trade and the European Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Slaves were a trade item that moved across the Sahara in ancient times. This continued after the Arab conquest of Noth Africa (8th century AD). Slaves from various sources including Africans were sold throughout the Muslim world. Senegal was the western-most source of these slaves. The extent of the Trans-Saharan slave trade is poorly documented, it began centuries before the Trans-Atlantic slave trade commenced. Most accounts of the Trans-Saharan slave trade are limited to the later phase of the trade. Al-Makrisi describes pilgrims coming from Takrur (near the Senegal River) who arrived in Mecca with 1,700 slaves (1416). The principal slave markets in North Africa where Senegal captives would have been sold were in Morocco, Algiers, Tripoli and Cairo. Here slaves were sold in public places or in souks. Eunuchs were more likely to be sold in private. The Trans-Atlantic slave trade is much better documented. The Portuguese objective in sailing south along the coast of Africa was to find a sea route to the East, bypassing the Ottomans and Arabs who blocked land routes. The expeditions were expensive and Portugal sought to finance them through trade. One of the commodities the Portuguese seized upon along with gold and ivory were slaves. The Portuguese arrived off Senegal (mid-15th century). They first settled on Gorée –- a small island only 3 kilometres off the coast neak Dakar which was an African settlement. Gorée was more secure than a trading post on the mainland. Gorée developed as a main entrepôt of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Expanding Dutch naval power led to the seizure of Gorée abd the Dutch renamed it Goede Reede (Good Harbor). The Dutch purchased the island from the Aftricans and built two forts to defend it from both the Africans and competing European powers. Gorée became a major transit point for goods from the African mainland and slaves were one of the most important commoduties. And as the slave trade grew so did the value of Gorée Island. With the decline of Dutch power it became a prize in the 18th century wars between Britain and France. Britain acquired it as a result of the Seven Years War (1763). Britain turned Senegal itself back to the French (1817). At that time, Britain had launched a major effort to send the Slave Trade. France did not at first cooperate in the British efforts to end the slave trade. The Royal Navy was able, however, to use Gorée as a base for the Royal Navy fleet division pursuing slavers and ending the slave trade.

French Colonial Era

Eventually the French established a dominant position along the coast of modern Senegal (by 1659). As a result of the Seven Years War, France was forced to cede Senegal to the British (1763). The British returned the colony after the Napoleonic Wars (1817). Britain retained control over Gambia cut out of the middle of the country along the Gambia River. Britain used the Royal Navy to supress the Atlantic slave trade. Britain with its established position in the Gambia used Bathurst (Banjul), an island in the mouth of the river, as a base in operations against the slave trade. France cintrolled much of the coast of Senegal as well as Gorée island between the Senegal and Gambia Rivers. Tghey established Dakar on the coast opposite Gorée on the mainland (1857). The French more agresiblely pushed inland than the Btitish. They set up a station at Médine, up the Senegal (1850s). A French French expedition reached Bamako on the Niger (1883). The British continued to limit their activities to the Gambia. The British and French asgeree to boundaries (1889). The French incorporated Senegal into French West Africa (1895). It was France's most important colony in West Africa with the strtongest French presence. Dakar was made the capital of French West Africa (1902). The French ruled Senegal without any representative local government. Senegalese volunteered to serve with the French Army in both world wars. This became an issue when the French used Senegalese and other colonial troops when they occupied the German Rhineland after World War I. The Germans during World War II shot many French colonial soldiers after they surrendered (1940). A World War II battle erupted when the British and Free French tried unsuccessfully to seize Dakar--Operation Menace (1940). After World War II, Senegal became a French Overseas Territory. The French finally established a territorial assembly (1946). France gradually expanded the authority of that assembly. France attempted to hold on to its colonial empire after the War, but the Viet Nam War and the Algerian War changed French policy. France granted autonomy within the French Community (1958). There was a brief and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to participate in the Mali Federation (with neighboring Mali and Sudan) (1959).

Independence (1960)

Senegal seceded from the newly created Federation of Mali and France granted independence (1960). Leopold Sedar Senghor was the first president. He served as president for two decades. Senghor was followed by Adbou Diouf (1981). National politics were monopolised by the Parti Socialiste Sénégalais (PSS) which was used by Senghor and Diof as a instrument of personal power. Senegal was never formally a one-party state and opposition parties and the media managed to operate as long as they did not threaten the PPS. Opposition politicans that became too popular or vocal were arrested. This was the experience of Abdoulaye Wade of the Parti Démocratique Sénégalais (PDS) who was both arrested and exiled for political acrivity. Diouf held onto the office ever longer than Senghor. Parliament passed a law permitting him to be president for life (1998). This proved to be a short-lived attempt. PPS rule was ended by a democratic movement--Sopi (Change) (2000-02). Wade managed to defeat Diouf in the presidential election (March 2000). Wade and the PDS formed an alliance with the smaller Communist party, known as Sopi (Change), to contest National Assembly elections (April 2001). They won an absolute majority. Wade selected Madior Boye of the PDS as his Prime Minister, but fired him (autumn 2002). Sebegal was shocked with the sinking of the ferry Joola (September 2002). More than 1,100 people were killed. It was Africa’s most tragic maritime disaster. President Wade chose Idrissa Seck, a long-time PDS ally, as his new Prime Ministerm but unexpectedly fired him as well (April 2004). His mext choice was then Interior Minister, Macky Sall. Sall's first offivial act to pledge absolute loyalty to the President. Senegal has been more stable since independence than many African countries. There is a separtist movement in the heavily Muslim north.

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Created: 5:41 AM 11/23/2009
Last updated: 2:07 PM 11/16/2012