History of Senegal
The story begins in Senegal probably already with early cultures in the Paleolithic and Neolithic.
In 500 AD, wandered from the northeast belonging to the Wolof and Serer Sudanidenvölkern in the area now a Senegal. In the 9th century, sudanide Tukulor settled in the valley of the Senegal River.
Influence of Ghana and Mali (ca. 900 - 15th century )
The westsudanische Ghana Empire stretched to 900 his domain from the upper Niger from up in the estuary of the Senegal. In the 11th century saw the beginning of the decline of the Ghana Empire. Attacks of Berber peoples - including the Almoravids, who brought Islam to Senegal - weakened the kingdom. In 1240 it was conquered by the Mali Empire, which took over control of the small kingdoms in Senegal. With the power decay of the Mali Empire, these Wolof kingdoms obtained ( see, eg, Jolof, Waalo ) in the 14th century and 15th century, the first time their independence.
Colonial period (1444-1960)
1444 the Portuguese built their first trading office in Senegal. They were followed in the 16th century Dutch, French and British. The Wolof kingdoms rose to become important trading partners of the Europeans, particularly in the area of the slave trade. The island of Gorée was important trading center in the Atlantic slave trade. From the 17th century Frenchmen were in Senegambia down, sold in 1677 and the Dutch took control of the coast. 1758-1779 and 1809-1816 of Senegal was occupied by Great Britain before prevailed from 1840-1865 in France. 1857 African units of the colonial army, established the so-called skirmishers sénégalais. 1883 were the inhabitants of four coastal cities French citizenship. 1895 France declared Senegal to his colony, and Saint -Louis became the capital of French West Africa, before it was replaced in 1902 by Dakar. Around this time, a close economic cooperation with the Brotherhood of Amadou Bamba Muridiyya, who worked in peanut cultivation developed.
1914, the first African -derived MPs were sent to the French National Assembly in 1946 received all citizens the right to vote. In two stages France finally sent the country to independence. 1958 received broad autonomy within the French Community, the following year it merged with Mali to Mali Federation. In " African Year " in 1960 Senegal was, like almost all French colonies, regardless.
Independence ( after 1960 )
Under the leadership of Leopold Sedar Senghor a presidential republic, which was based on the one-party rule of the Union progressiste Sénégalaise ( UPS ) was founded. After an attempted coup by Prime Minister Mamadou Dia Senghor received by a constitutional amendment in 1963 expanded powers and also took over the post of the Prime Minister ( until 1970). In mass demonstrations against his authoritarian regime, he responded in the 1970s with a gradual democratization. In the first free elections in 1978 won the ruling party, which had been renamed the Parti Socialiste Démocratique ( psd ), over 80 % of the vote. The liberal Parti Démocratique Sénégalais (PDS ) moved as an opposition in parliament.
On December 31, 1980, 1963, 1968, 1973 and 1978, re-elected President Senghor declared unconstitutional in his resignation, which was unique in sub-Saharan Africa until then.
He was succeeded by his confidant Abdou Diouf, who has held the office of prime minister since 1971. Under his leadership, Senegal and Gambia joined together in 1982 in the political, economic and cultural fields to the Senegambia Confederation, which however fell apart in 1989 again.
Renewed unrest in the late eighties, such as the Casamance conflict in the southern region of Casamance, Diouf led the early nineties to further liberalization measures. So he limited as the office of the President to two terms of office. There were border disputes with the northern neighbor Mauritania.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Senegal was also affected by the drought in the Sahel, although less strongly than other states. Until very recently, the country of desertification and other economic problems is concerned that contribute to that, especially looking for young men trying their luck in the emigration to Europe.
1993 President Diouf was re-elected. The opposition accuses him of electoral fraud.
The assassination of the Deputy President of the Constitutional Court, Babacar Seye, on 15 May 1993 plunging the country into a domestic political crisis.
After the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 riots break. There will be riots with fatalities in Dakar. As a result, there are mass arrests and accusations against opposition politicians.
1995 Prime Minister Habib Thiam form a new cabinet with the participation of the opposition party Parti Démocratique Sénégalais (PDS ).
In August 1997, performs a sharpening of the Casamance conflict to hundreds of casualties among the rebels, civilians and soldiers.
After the break the coalition government in March 2001 wins in parliamentary elections on April 29, 2001, led by Abdoulaye Wade, consisting of 40 parties " party Alliance for Change" 89 out of 120 seats. The Party of Moustapha Niasse, the Alliance des Forces du Progres ( AFP) gets 11 seats. The Parti Socialiste (PS ) by Abdou Diouf, who has been the strongest force in parliament reached only 10 seats. The government is formed under Prime Minister Madior Boye (PDS ).
On 7 November 2002 Idrissa Seck is (PDS ) Prime Minister. The Cabinet is formed with four new ministers of state and 27 ministers. After the reshuffle on 27 August 2003 Seck remains Prime Minister, now with 34 ministers.
On April 21, 2004 Macky Sall ( PDS) Prime Minister.
In the presidential election on February 25, 2007 occurs incumbent Abdoulaye Wade again and re-elected in the first ballot. Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré (PDS ) in 2007 Prime Minister on June 19.