GENERAL
Official name of the state
Republic of Senegal.
Capital
Dakar.
Geography
As a country located in Africa according to mathgeneral, Senegal borders Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in the south, Mali in the east, Mauritania in the north and completely encloses Gambia. To the west is the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the country is less than 100 m above sea level. d. The exceptions are the Fouta Djallon foothills in the southwest and the Bambouk mountains on the Malian border. There are shifting dunes on the coast between Dakar and Saint-Louis. Some rivers flow into the Atlantic south of Dakar. In the north, south of the Senegal Basin, lies the barren Fouta Ferlo, a dry Sahel plain with sparse vegetation.
Government
Presidential republic since 1963. Constitution of 2001. Unicameral parliament with 120 members. Independent since 1960 (former French colony).
Head of state
Macky Sall, since April 2012.
Head of government
Mohamed Dionne, since July 2014.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz.
Time zone
Greenwich Mean Time: CET -1
MONEY
Currency
1 CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc * = 100 Centimes. Currency abbreviation: CFA Fr, XOF (ISO code). Banknotes are in circulation to the value of 10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000 CFA Fr. Coins are available in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 CFA Fr.
Note: [*] The CFA Franc (XOF) is issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO, State Bank of West African States) and used by the 8 members of the African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. The CFA Franc (XAF) issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (BEAC, State Bank of the Central African States) is not legal tender in Senegal. The CFA Franc is pegged to the Euro.
Credit cards
American Express and partly also Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are occasionally accepted in upscale hotels and restaurants. You can withdraw money from a few ATMs in Dakar, especially with Visa. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are accepted throughout Europe and worldwide. Cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are accepted at a few ATMs in the capital in Senegal, but not in shops. Further information from banks and credit institutes.
Attention: Travelers who pay with their bank customer card abroad and want to withdraw money should find out about the options for using their card from their bank prior to departure.
Bank opening times
Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2.30 p.m.-4.30 p.m. (variations are possible), sometimes also Sat 8.30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Foreign exchange regulations
Unrestricted importation of the local currency, the export of which is limited to 20,000 CFA Fr. Import of foreign currencies up to the equivalent of CHF 1 million, obligation to declare (keep the receipt in a safe place). Suspected foreign exchange smuggling threatens to confiscate undeclared sums of money. Export of foreign currencies up to the equivalent of 500,000 CFA Fr.
Currency Exchange
The euro is changed at a fixed rate in banks and exchange offices.
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official language is French. Wolof, Senegalo-Guinean, Mandé, Ful, Peul, Malinké and others as colloquial languages.
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following articles can be imported into Senegal duty-free:
10 boxes of cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g tobacco (people over 18 years of age);
A bottle of perfume and a bottle of eau de toilette for personal use;
1 bottle of wine and a bottle of spirits.
Prohibited imports
Poultry and its products.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
A light suit or dress is appropriate for business meetings. The business language is French. Appointments should be made in advance. Punctuality is expected, although business partners are often late. Business cards in French or English are recommended. The holiday season is between July and October.
Business hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-12.30 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. During Ramadan, some offices are open from 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Economy
Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et d’Agriculture de la Région de Dakar (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Dakar)
1 Place de l’Indépendance, BP 118, Dakar
Tel: 823 71 89.
Business contacts
Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et d’Agriculture de la Région de Dakar (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Dakar)
1 Place de l’Indépendance, BP 118, Dakar
Tel: 823 71 89.
COMMUNICATION
Phone
Dial-up remote service.
Cellphone
GSM 900. Network operators are Sentel (Internet: www.millicom.com), whose transmission / reception area is limited to the capital Dakar and the surrounding area, and Alizé, a subsidiary of Sonatel (www.sonatel.sn or www.alize.sn) . Both operators have roaming agreements with mobile phone companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Internet
Internet provider is Telecom Plus. There are internet cafes in every city.
Post Office
Airmail shipments to Europe take 7-10 days, by land it takes 2-6 weeks.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Action is common. Souvenirs include wood-carved game boards, masks and statues, musical instruments and metalwork, traditional fabrics, embroidery and clothing, pottery, ceramic chains and wooden jewelry. Opening times of the shops: Varies, mostly Mon-Sat 8 am-12pm and 2.30pm-6pm. Some shops also open on Sunday mornings, while others are closed on Mondays.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
Traditional festivals take place all year round. There are several nightclubs in Dakar and a casino on the road to N’Gor. The cinemas show the latest French films.
CULTURE
Religion
94% Sunni Muslims; 5% Christian and 1% animist minorities.
Social rules of conduct
You shake hands to greet you, even if you have met the person concerned several times that day. If you want to visit a village and stay overnight or visit the surrounding area, the village chief or school teacher should pay a courtesy visit. They often serve as translators and are helpful guides. Accommodation is often offered as a friendship gift and payment is undesirable. A small gift such as medicine, food or money for the village community is appropriate. Everyday clothing is accepted everywhere. Swimwear belongs on the beach or the swimming pool. Some public buildings, especially mosques, are non-smoking areas. Tip:10-15% for service is added to all hotel and restaurant bills. Taxi drivers are usually not given tips.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
December to May (dry season), when trade winds on the coast provide a welcome cooling, is the best time to travel. After the dry season, hot monsoon winds blow from the south, bringing with it the rainy season and hot, humid weather. The Casamance region and the south-east have the most rainfall.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +221 Area (sqkm) 196722 Population 13975834 Population density (per sqkm) 71 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No major emergency number 17