World Factbook
Senegal
République du Sénégal
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), yellow, and red, with a small five-pointed green star centered on the yellow band; green stands for Islam, progress, and hope, yellow for natural wealth and progress, and red for sacrifice and determination; the star represents unity and hope history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
note: the colors from left to right are the same as Mali's flag and the reverse of Guinea's flag
Capital
name
Dakar
etymology
the name comes from the Wolof word n'dakar , meaning "tamarind tree"
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
14 44 N, 17 38 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Senegal
dual citizenship recognized
no, but Senegalese citizens do not automatically lose their citizenship if they acquire citizenship in another state
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previous 1959 (pre-independence), 1963; latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires Assembly approval and approval in a referendum; the president can bypass a referendum and submit an amendment directly to the Assembly, which requires at least three-fifths majority vote; the republican form of government is not amendable
Country name
former
Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation
etymology
named for the Senegal River that forms the northern border of the country; the river's name may derive from "Azenegue," the Portuguese name for the Berber Zenaga people who lived north of the river, or it could come from a local word meaning "navigable"
local long form
République du Sénégal
local short form
Sénégal
conventional long form
Republic of Senegal
conventional short form
Senegal
Independence
4 April 1960 (from France); 20 August 1960 (full independence after federation with Mali is dissolved)
Legal system
civil law system based on French law; Constitutional Council reviews legislative acts
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (consists of the court president and 12 judges and organized into civil and commercial, criminal, administrative, and social chambers); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of 7 members, including the court president, vice president, and 5 judges)
subordinate courts
High Court of Justice (for crimes of high treason by the president); Courts of Appeal; Court of Auditors; assize courts; regional and district courts; Labor Court
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon recommendation of the Superior Council of the Magistrates, a body chaired by the president and minister of justice; judge tenure varies, with mandatory retirement either at 65 or 68 years; Constitutional Council members are appointed, 5 by the president and 2 by the National Assembly speaker; judges serve 6-year terms, with renewal of 2 members every 2 years
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (since 2 April 2024)
election results
2024: Bassirou Diomaye FAYE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (PASTEF) 54%, Amadou BA (APR) 36%, other 10% 2019: Macky SALL reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Macky SALL (APR) 58.3%, Idrissa SECK (Rewmi) 20.5%, Ousmane SONKO (PASTEF) 15.7%, other 5.5%
head of government
Prime Minister Ousmane SONKO (since 2 April 2024)
most recent election date
24 March 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single, renewable 5-year term
expected date of next election
March 2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
National color(s)
green, yellow, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
7 (5 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Island of Gorée (c); Niokolo-Koba National Park (n); Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (n); Island of Saint-Louis (c); Stone Circles of Senegambia (c); Saloum Delta (c); Bassari Country: Bassari, Fula, and Bedik Cultural Landscapes (c)
Political parties
Alliance for Citizenship and Work or ACT Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar or APR Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP AND (National Alliance for Democracy) And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS ARC (Alternative for the next generation of citizens) Awalé Benno Bokk Yakaar or BBY (United in Hope); coalition includes AFP, APR, BGC, LD-MPT, PIT, PS, and UNP Bokk Gis Gis coalition Citizen Movement for National Reform or MCRN-Bes Du Nakk Coalition Mimi 2024 Dare the Future movement Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT Democratic Renaissance Congress Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ Gainde Centrist Bloc or BCG General Alliance for the Interests of the Republic or AGIR Grand Party or GP Gueum sa Bopp (Believe in yourself) Independence and Labor Party or PIT Jotna Coalition Liberate the People (Yewwi Askan Wi) or YAW Madicke 2019 coalition National Union for the People or UNP Only Senegal Movement Party for Truth and Development or PVD Party of Unity and Rally or PUR Patriotic Convergence Kaddu Askan Wi or CP-Kaddu Askan Wi PRP (Republican party for Progress) Rewmi Party Save Senegal (Wallu Senegal Grand Coalition) or WS; coalition includes PDS, Jotna Coalition, Democratic Renaissance Congress Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS Socialist Party or PS Tekki Movement Réewum Ngor (Republic of Values) Servants (Les Serviteurs)
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
165 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
legislature name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
11/17/2024
expected date of next election
November 2029
percentage of women in chamber
41.2%
parties elected and seats per party
Pastef Party (130); Coalition Takku Wallu Sénégal (16); Other (19)
National anthem(s)
title
"Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons" (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons)
history
adopted 1960; lyrics written by Leopold Sedar SENGHOR, Senegal's first president; the anthem sometimes played incorporating the koras (harp-like stringed instruments) and balafons (types of xylophones) mentioned in the title
lyrics/music
Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER
National symbol(s)
lion
Administrative divisions
14 regions ( régions , singular - région ); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kéedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 629-2961
chancery
2215 M ST NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
telephone
[1] (202) 234-0540
chief of mission
Ambassador Abdoul Wahab HAIDARA (since 24 July 2025)
consulate(s) general
New York
email address and website
contact@ambasenegal-us.org http://www.ambasenegal-us.org/index.php
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
Route des Almadies, Dakar
telephone
[221] 33-879-4000
mailing address
2130 Dakar Place, Washington D.C. 20521-2130
chief of mission
Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 10 March 2022); note - also accredited to Guinea-Bissau
email address and website
DakarACS@state.gov https://sn.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, EITI (candidate country), FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction