Crs Report for Congress: Senegal

ISBN-10: 1293250775
ISBN-13: 9781293250778
Series: Crs Report for Congress
Pages: 26
Language: English
Published: 2013-11
Publisher: BiblioGov
Authors: Congressional Research Service: The Libr, Alexis Arieff

Description

While Senegal enjoys relative peace and political openness by regional standards, recent political trends and signs of a growing public backlash against the government have raised concerns among some analysts over the potential for future instability. Senegal is an electoral democracy and one of the few countries in Africa never to have experienced a military coup. Its leadership is seen as diplomatically influential within Africa. Over 90% of the population is Muslim, the majority of whom adhere to an indigenous Sufi order. A largely arid coastal country in Africa's Sahel region, and one of the world's least developed countries, Senegal has struggled with food insecurity and the impact of global climate change. In March 2000, longtime opposition leader Abdoulaye Wade won presidential elections widely seen as free and fair. Wade's victory, and the subsequent peaceful transfer of power to his Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), were hailed as a landmark for democracy in Senegal and the region. However, in recent years, international observers and some Senegalese have expressed concern at apparent democratic "backsliding," amid reports of rising corruption, nepotism, and attempts to restrict press freedom. Wade has announced plans to run for a third term in 2012, when he will be ...