Editing Senegal (section)

== Government and politics ==
{{main|Politics of Senegal}}
[[File:Macky Sall - 2008.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Macky Sall]], President of Senegal (2012–2024)]]
[[File:Abdoulaye Wade in 16-05-2007.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Abdoulaye Wade]], President of Senegal (2000–2012)]]

Senegal is a republic with a presidency; the president is [[Elections in Senegal|elected]] every five years as of 2016, previously being seven years from independence to 2001, five years from 2001 to 2008, and seven years again from 2008 to 2016, by adult voters. The first president, [[Léopold Sédar Senghor]], was a poet and writer, and was the first African elected to the ''Académie française''. Senegal's second president, [[Abdou Diouf]], later served as general secretary of the ''Organisation de la Francophonie''. The third president was [[Abdoulaye Wade]], a lawyer. The fourth president was [[Macky Sall]], elected in March 2012 and reelected in February [[2019 in Senegal|2019]].<ref>{{citation|website=BBC News|date=28 February 2019|access-date=10 August 2019|title=Senegal election: President Macky Sall wins second term|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47400711|archive-date=13 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513133859/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47400711|url-status=live}}</ref> On 25 March 2024, [[Bassirou Diomaye Faye]] became the fifth democratically elected president.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senegal's top court confirms Bassirou Diomaye Faye's election victory |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/29/senegals-top-court-confirms-bassirou-diomaye-fayes-election-victory |work=Al Jazeera |language=en |access-date=29 April 2024 |archive-date=27 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427192653/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/29/senegals-top-court-confirms-bassirou-diomaye-fayes-election-victory |url-status=live }}</ref>

Senegal has more than 80 political parties. The [[unicameral]] parliament consists of the [[National Assembly of Senegal|National Assembly]], which has 150 seats (a [[Senate (Senegal)|Senate]] was in place from 1999 to 2001 and 2007 to 2012).<ref name=cia>{{cite web |work=[[The World Factbook]] |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |author-link=CIA |title=Senegal |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/senegal/ |year=2009 |access-date=12 October 2015 |archive-date=4 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204143936/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/senegal/ |url-status=live }}</ref> An independent judiciary also exists in Senegal. The nation's highest courts that deal with business issues are the constitutional council and the court of justice, members of which are named by the president.

=== Political culture ===
Currently, Senegal has a quasi-democratic political culture, one of the more successful post-colonial democratic transitions in Africa. Local administrators are appointed and held accountable by the president. [[Marabout]]s, religious leaders of the various [[Muslim brotherhoods of Senegal]], have also exercised a strong political influence in the country especially during Wade's presidency. In 2009, [[Freedom House]] downgraded Senegal's status from "Free" to "Partially Free", based on increased centralisation of power in the executive. By 2014, it had recovered its Free status.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2014/senegal-0#.VEWVY_nF-So|title=Senegal&nbsp;– Country report&nbsp;– Freedom in the World&nbsp;– 2014|website=Freedomhouse.org|access-date=23 August 2017|archive-date=10 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010204829/http://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2014/senegal-0#.VEWVY_nF-So|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2008, Senegal finished in 12th position on the [[Ibrahim Index of African Governance]].<ref name="ibrahim_index">{{cite web|url=http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/en/section/the-ibrahim-index |title=The Ibrahim Index » Mo Ibrahim Foundation |publisher=Moibrahimfoundation.org |access-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229141051/http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/en/section/the-ibrahim-index |archive-date=29 December 2011 }}</ref> The Ibrahim Index is a comprehensive measure of African governance (limited to [[sub-Saharan Africa]] until 2008), based on a number of different variables which reflect the success with which governments deliver essential political goods to their citizens. When the Northern African countries were added to the index in 2009, Senegal's 2008 position was retroactively downgraded to 15th place (with Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco placing ahead of Senegal). {{As of|2012}}, Senegal's Ibrahim Index rank has declined another point to 16th of 52 African countries.

On 22 February 2011, Senegal severed diplomatic ties with [[Iran]], saying it supplied rebels with weapons which killed Senegalese troops in the [[Casamance conflict]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2011/02/201122392022223897.html|title=Senegal severs ties with Iran: Senegal's foreign ministry accuses Tehran of supplying weapons to separatist rebels in its southern Casamance region|date=23 February 2011|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=30 November 2016|archive-date=30 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130191331/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2011/02/201122392022223897.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Senegalese presidential election, 2012|2012 presidential election]] was controversial due to President Wade's candidacy, as the opposition argued he should not be considered eligible to run again. Several youth opposition movements, including M23 and [[Y'en a Marre]], emerged in June 2011. In the end, Macky Sall of the [[Alliance for the Republic (Senegal)|Alliance for the Republic]] won, and Wade conceded the election to Sall. This peaceful and democratic transition was hailed by many foreign observers, such as the EU<ref>{{cite web |url=http://world.myjoyonline.com/pages/africa/201203/83756.php |title=Macky Sall Senegal election win 'example for Africa' &#124; Africa |publisher=World.myjoyonline.com |date=26 August 2012 |access-date=25 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509000049/http://world.myjoyonline.com/pages/africa/201203/83756.php |archive-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> as a show of "maturity".

On 19 September 2012, lawmakers voted to do away with the Senate to save an estimated $15&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Senegal Votes to do Away With Senate to Save Money|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/senegal-votes-do-away-senate-save-money|agency=Associated Press|access-date=20 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402140257/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/senegal-votes-do-away-senate-save-money |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>

In August 2017, the ruling party won a landslide victory in the [[2017 Senegalese parliamentary election|parliamentary election]]. President Macky Sall's ruling coalition took 125 seats in the 165-seat National Assembly.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-senegal-election-idUSKBN1AL09O |title=Senegal ruling party wins large parliamentary majority |work=Reuters |date=5 August 2017 |access-date=27 June 2021 }}</ref> In 2019 president Macky Sall easily won [[2019 Senegalese presidential election|re-election]] in the first round.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190228-senegal-president-macky-sall-wins-election-preliminary-results |title=Senegal's President Macky Sall easily wins re-election, opposition will not contest vote |work=France24 |date=28 February 2019 |access-date=27 June 2021 |archive-date=7 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707001522/https://www.france24.com/en/20190228-senegal-president-macky-sall-wins-election-preliminary-results |url-status=live }}</ref> On 2 April 2024, his successor Bassirou Diomaye Faye was sworn in.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agence France-Presse |title=Bassirou Diomaye Faye sworn in as Senegal's youngest president |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/02/bassirou-diomaye-faye-to-be-sworn-in-as-senegal-youngest-president |work=The Guardian |date=2 April 2024}}</ref>

=== Leadership in World governance initiatives ===
Senegal has been one of the signatories of the agreement to convene a convention for drafting a [[world constitution]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Letters from Thane Read asking Helen Keller to sign the World Constitution for world peace. 1961 |url=https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B149-F04-022.1.8 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Helen Keller Archive |publisher=American Foundation for the Blind |archive-date=3 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703034807/https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B149-F04-022.1.8 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Letter from World Constitution Coordinating Committee to Helen, enclosing current materials |url=https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B154-F05-028.1.4 |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=Helen Keller Archive |publisher=American Foundation for the Blind |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719170534/https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive?a=d&d=A-HK01-07-B154-F05-028.1.4 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, in 1968, for the first time in human history, a [[World Constituent Assembly]] convened to draft and adopt the [[Constitution for the Federation of Earth]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Preparing earth constitution {{!}} Global Strategies & Solutions {{!}} The Encyclopedia of World Problems |url=http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/strategy/193465 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=The Encyclopedia of World Problems {{!}} Union of International Associations (UIA) |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719215501/http://encyclopedia.uia.org/en/strategy/193465 }}</ref> [[Léopold Sédar Senghor]], then [[president of Senegal]] signed the agreement to convene a World Constituent Assembly.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Amerasinghe |first=Terence P. |title=Emerging World Law, Volume 1 |publisher=Institute for Economic Democracy |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-933567-16-7 |page=50 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Regions of Senegal|Departments of Senegal|Arrondissements of Senegal|Communes of Senegal}}
[[File:Senegal, administrative divisions in colour 2.svg|thumb|upright=2.05|Regions of Senegal]]

Senegal is subdivided into 14 regions,<ref>[https://www.statoids.org/en/sn/admin-levels/l1/map/senegal/regions Statoids page on Senegal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928130136/https://www.statoids.org/en/sn/admin-levels/l1/map/senegal/regions |date=28 September 2023 }} (noting that three new regions were split off on 10 September 2008).</ref> each administered by a ''Conseil Régional'' (Regional Council) elected by population weight at the ''Arrondissement'' level. The country is further subdivided by 45 ''Départements'', 113 ''Arrondissements'' (neither of which have administrative function) and by ''Collectivités Locales'', which elect administrative officers.<ref>[http://www.uael.sn/article.php3?id_article=32 List of current local elected officials] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819053719/http://www.uael.sn/article.php3?id_article=32 |date=19 August 2007 }} from Union des ''Associations d' Elus Locaux (UAEL) du Sénégal''. See also the law creating current local government structures: {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.demarches.gouv.sn/collectivites-locales/pdf/code-collec-locales-sen.pdf Code des collectivités locales] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511042009/http://www.demarches.gouv.sn/collectivites-locales/pdf/code-collec-locales-sen.pdf |date=11 May 2011 }}, Loi n° 96-06 du 22 mars 1996.</ref>

Regional capitals have the same name as their respective regions:
{{Div col}}
* [[Dakar Region|Dakar]]
* [[Diourbel Region|Diourbel]]
* [[Fatick Region|Fatick]]
* [[Kaffrine Region|Kaffrine]]
* [[Kaolack Region|Kaolack]]
* [[Kédougou Region|Kédougou]]
* [[Kolda Region|Kolda]]
* [[Louga Region|Louga]]
* [[Matam Region|Matam]]
* [[Saint-Louis Region|Saint-Louis]]
* [[Sédhiou Region|Sédhiou]]
* [[Tambacounda Region|Tambacounda]]
* [[Thiès Region|Thiès]]
* [[Ziguinchor Region|Ziguinchor]]
{{Div col end}}

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Further|Foreign relations of Senegal}}

Senegal has a high profile in many international organizations and was a member of the [[UN Security Council]] in 1988–89 and 2015–2016. It was elected to the [[UN Commission on Human Rights]] in 1997. Friendly to the West, especially to the United States, Senegal has vigorously advocated for more assistance from developed countries to the [[Third World]]. The [[Foreign Minister of Senegal]] is [[Aïssata Tall Sall]]. She took office in November 2020.

[[File:The African Renaissance Monument.jpg|thumb|center|The African Renaissance Monument]]

Historically, Senegal has been close to France, its former colonizer, but this had caused a great amount of tension with the people and was one of the reasons why former President Macky Sall lost support. Senegalese often complained that Sall was consistently giving French companies priority contracts to extract Senegal's natural resources rather than giving the contracts to whoever offered Senegal the best deal. They also believed France was pushing Macky Sall to run for an unconstitutional third term. After debating whether to run a third time for months, Sall did not.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/03/world/africa/senegal-president-third-term.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125101411/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/03/world/africa/senegal-president-third-term.html|date=25 January 2024}}</ref>

Senegal enjoys mostly cordial relations with its neighbors. In spite of clear progress on other issues with [[Mauritania]] (border security, resource management, economic integration, etc.), an estimated 35,000 Mauritanian refugees (of the estimated 40,000 who were expelled from their home country in 1989) remain in Senegal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/video/africa/2014/05/mauritanian-refugees-refuse-leave-senegal-20145872721336117.html|title=Mauritanian refugees refuse to leave Senegal|date=8 May 2014|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=20 October 2018|archive-date=20 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020223751/https://www.aljazeera.com/video/africa/2014/05/mauritanian-refugees-refuse-leave-senegal-20145872721336117.html|url-status=live}}</ref>[[Morocco–Senegal relations|Morocco–Senegal]] relations have also been courteous, as the new [[Bassirou Diomaye Faye]] invited the king of Morocco on his swearing ceremony in 2024.

Senegal is well integrated with the main bodies of the international community, including the [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS), the [[African Union]] (AU), and the [[Community of Sahel–Saharan States]].

Senegal is the 84th most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024 [[Global Peace Index]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Global Peace Index |url=https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf}}</ref>

=== Military ===
[[File:Landmine warning sign near Ziguinchor, Senegal.jpg|thumb|Land mines were widely used in the [[Casamance conflict]] between separatist rebels and the central government.]]
The [[Armed Forces of Senegal]] consist of about 17,000 personnel in the army, [[Senegalese Air Force|air force]], navy, and gendarmerie. The Senegalese military receives most of its training, equipment, and support from France and the United States, and to a lesser extent Germany.

Military non interference in political affairs has contributed to Senegal's stability since independence. Senegal has participated in many international and regional peacekeeping missions. Most recently, in 2000, Senegal sent a battalion to the [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] to participate in [[MONUC]], the United Nations peacekeeping mission, and agreed to deploy a US-trained battalion to [[Sierra Leone]] for [[UNAMSIL]], another UN peacekeeping mission.

In 2015, Senegal participated in the Saudi Arabian-led [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen|military intervention in Yemen]] against the [[Shia Islam|Shia]] [[Houthis]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Senegal to send 2,100 troops to join Saudi-led alliance|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-saudi-senegal-idUSKBN0NP1N920150504|date=4 May 2015|work=Reuters|access-date=5 July 2021|archive-date=5 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505003911/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/04/us-yemen-saudi-senegal-idUSKBN0NP1N920150504|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Law ===
Senegal is a secular state, as defined in its [[Constitution of Senegal|Constitution]].<ref name="Constitution of Senegal">{{cite web|url=http://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/sn/sn014en.pdf|title=Constitution of Senegal (Article 1)|access-date=4 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930153624/http://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/sn/sn014en.pdf|archive-date=30 September 2015}}</ref>

To fight corruption, the government has created the National Anti-Corruption Office (OFNAC) and the Commission of Restitution and Recovery of Illegally Acquired Assets. According to Business Anti-Corruption Portal, President Sall created the OFNAC to replace the Commission Nationale de Lutte Contre la non-Transparence, la Corruption et la Concussion (CNLCC). It is said that the OFNAC represents a more effective tool for fighting corruption than the CNLCC established under former President Wade.<ref>{{cite web|title=Public Anti-Corruption Initiatives|url=http://www.business-anti-corruption.com/country-profiles/sub-saharan-africa/senegal/show-all.aspx|publisher=Business Anti-Corruption Portal|access-date=27 March 2014|archive-date=22 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522221802/http://www.business-anti-corruption.com/country-profiles/sub-saharan-africa/senegal/show-all.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> The mission of OFNAC is to fight corruption, embezzlement of public funds and fraud. OFNAC has the power of self-referral (own initiative investigation). OFNAC is composed of twelve members appointed by decree.

[[LGBT rights in Senegal|Homosexuality]] is illegal in Senegal.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-25|title=In Senegal many gay people live in fear, forced to leave home|url=https://www.france24.com/en/video/20210625-in-senegal-many-gay-people-live-in-fear-forced-to-leave-home|access-date=2021-10-10|publisher=France 24|language=en|archive-date=10 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010171309/https://www.france24.com/en/video/20210625-in-senegal-many-gay-people-live-in-fear-forced-to-leave-home|url-status=live}}</ref> According to 2013 survey by the [[Pew Research Center]], 96% of Senegalese believe that homosexuality should not be accepted by society.<ref name="pewglobal.org">[http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/06/04/the-global-divide-on-homosexuality/ "The Global Divide on Homosexuality."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103034522/http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/06/04/the-global-divide-on-homosexuality/ |date=3 November 2013 }} ''pewglobal''. 4 June 2013. 4 June 2013.</ref> LGBTQ community members in Senegal report a strong feeling of being unsafe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.trust.org/item/20180927065941-onebm/|title='Fighting for survival', Senegal's gay community is on its own|website=news.trust.org|access-date=2 May 2019|archive-date=2 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502183231/http://news.trust.org/item/20180927065941-onebm/|url-status=live}}</ref>