This Western African country is bounded on the east by Mali, on the south by Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The 45-year-old republic is now populated by 9.8 million Senegalese, the majority of whom live along the western coast. Ninety-two percent of the people are Sunni Muslims, six percent follow traditional beliefs, and two percent are Christians. Although the Wolof language is the most widely understood, French is considered the official language of Senegal.

Like most countries in the African continent, Senegal is a former European colony. Portuguese settlers arrived in the 15th century, but the French eventually gained control in the 17th century. In 1895, Senegal was officially made a French colony, administered from Saint Louis. The French developed Senegal’s economy around the cultivation of peanuts for export. On April 4, 1960, Senegal achieved independence.

Senegal has relatively good infrastructure. It has well-developed port facilities, a major international airport serving 24 international airlines, including scheduled service by US firm World Airways, and direct and expanding telecommunications links with major world centers.

The modern sector of Senegal includes fishing, phosphate mining, tourism, and chemical industries. The country has a growing industrial sector, which is one of the largest in West Africa. The cultivation of peanuts remains a pillar of the economy, along with the export of cotton. Important technical assistance has been provided by France and other countries of the European Union and the World Bank. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff.

We congratulate the people and government of the Republic of Senegal, and its Philippine consulate headed by Consul Edward S. Go on the occasion of their National Day.