<text><span class="style42"></span><span class="style12">SENEGAL</span><span class="style14"></span><span class="style42">Official name: </span><span class="style13">La République du Sénégal (The Republic of Senegal)</span><span class="style42">Member of: </span><span class="style13">UN, OAU, ECOWAS</span><span class="style42">Area: </span><span class="style13">196722 km2 (75954 sq mi)</span><span class="style42">Population: </span><span class="style13">7900000 (1993 est)</span><span class="style42">Capital: </span><span class="style13">Dakar 1730000 (1992 est)</span><span class="style42">Other major cities: </span><span class="style13">Thiès 201000, St Louis 180000 (1988 est)</span><span class="style42">Languages: </span><span class="style13">French (official), Wolof (36%), Serer (19%)</span><span class="style42">Religions: </span><span class="style13">Sunni Islam (94%), Roman Catholic</span><span class="style42">GOVERNMENT</span><span class="style13">Every five years the 120-member National Assembly is elected by universal adult suffrage. The Assembly comprises 60 members elected from single member constituencies and 60 members elected nationally by proportional representation. The President, who is directly elected for seven years, appoints and leads a Cabinet which includes a Prime Minister.</span><span class="style42">GEOGRAPHY</span><span class="style13">Senegal is mostly low-lying and covered by savannah. The Fouta Djalon mountains in the south rise to Gounou Mountain at 1515 m (4970 ft). </span><span class="style42">Principal river: </span><span class="style13">Sénégal 1641 km (1020 mi). </span><span class="style42">Climate: </span><span class="style13">Senegal has a tropical climate with a dry season from October to June.</span><span class="style42">ECONOMY</span><span class="style13">Agriculture involves over 75% of the labor force. Groundnuts and cotton are grown as cash crops, and rice, maize, millet and sorghum as subsistence crops. The manufacturing sector is one of the largest in West Africa, but unemployment is a major problem. </span><span class="style42">Currency: </span><span class="style13">CFA franc.</span><span class="style42">HISTORY</span><span class="style13">The region was part of the medieval empire of Mali. The coast was explored by the Portuguese in the 15th century and gradually came under French control from the 17th century. A national political awareness developed in the early 20th century, and the country contributed substantially to the nationalist awakening in French Africa. After independence in 1960 – under the poet, Léopold Sedar Senghor (1906– ) – Senegal maintained close relations with France, and received substantial aid. Attempted federations with Mali (1959–60) and Gambia (1981–89) were unsuccessful. Senghor retired in 1980, having re-introduced party politics.</span></text>