Senegal: Background and U.S. Relations

Alexis Arieff
Analyst in African Affairs

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 86 years old, in apparent contravention of the constitution. Public demonstrations against government policies and stagnant living conditions have occasionally turned violent. Violence between rebel factions and security forces has also recently increased in the southern Casamance region, the site of a long-running, though low-level, anti-government insurgency. 

Relations between Senegal and the United States are close, and the State Department refers to Senegal as a "key strategic partner" in Africa. U.S. policy toward Senegal focuses on encouraging economic growth, socio-economic development, improved health outcomes, food security, democratic governance, and military professionalism. The United States also sees Senegal as an anchor of regional stability and a potential partner in combating transnational security threats, such as terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and maritime piracy. Bilateral engagement has increased in recent years, in part due to Senegal's identity as a moderate, pro-Western Muslim country in a region affected by violent extremism. Senegal is a significant contributor of troops to international peacekeeping missions, and thousands of Senegalese peacekeepers have received U.S. training through the Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program. U.S. foreign assistance through State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) accounts has increased significantly in recent years, from $57.8 million in FY2008 to an estimated $106.3 million in FY2010. The Obama Administration has requested $136.9 million for FY2011, and Senegal is expected to be one of 13 African focus countries for the Administration's new global food security initiative, Feed the Future. In addition, a $540 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact was signed in 2009. Some U.S. officials, however, including Members of Congress, have criticized recent governance trends.


Date of Report: August 16, 2010
Number of Pages: 22
Order Number: R41369
Price: $29.95

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