Alexis Arieff
Analyst in African Affairs
Senegal is a small, Francophone nation with a population of 13 million, located on West Africa’s Atlantic coast. It has experienced steady, if limited, economic growth in recent years, but remains one of the world’s least developed countries. Over 90% of Senegal’s population is Muslim, the majority of whom adhere to an indigenous Sufi order. A semi-arid country in Africa’s Sahel region, Senegal has struggled with food insecurity and the impact of global climate change.
Although Senegal is a secular democracy and enjoys relative stability by regional standards, recent political trends have raised concerns among analysts and policy makers. President Abdoulaye Wade (pronounced “wahd”), in office since 2000, was initially credited with expanding civil liberties, liberalizing the economy, bolstering government health and education services, and negotiating a landmark peace accord in the restive southern Casamance region. He was returned to office in 2007 in an election that the State Department termed “open, peaceful, and highly competitive.” However, Wade’s reputation has since been marred by his increasingly unilateral exercise of power, along with reports of rising corruption, nepotism, and restrictions on civil liberties. The president, who is in his 80s, has announced plans to run for a third term in 2012, which may require a constitutional amendment. Public unrest has escalated over government policies and stagnant living conditions, and in March 2011, the government accused a group of opposition and civil society activists of organizing a coup attempt. Opposition groups rejected the allegations as politically motivated. Violence has also increased in Casamance since mid-2009, despite the previously successful 2004 peace deal.
The State Department refers to U.S.-Senegalese relations as “excellent,” while noting concerns over negative governance trends. 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. U.S. foreign assistance focuses on democratic governance, economic growth, rural development, public health, food security, reconciliation in Casamance, 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. 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.
Bilateral aid through State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) accounts has increased steeply in recent years, from $57.8 million in FY2008 to $106.3 million in FY2010. The Obama Administration has requested $119.9 million for FY2012, 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.
Congress may play a role in guiding U.S. policy toward Senegal through its authorization, appropriation, and oversight of foreign assistance, security cooperation programs, and executive branch policies. Some Members of Congress, for example, have expressed concern over the decision to award Senegal an MCC compact in light of recent governance trends.
Date of Report: March 25, 2011
Number of Pages: 23
Order Number: R41369
Price: $29.95
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Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Analyst in African Affairs
Senegal is a small, Francophone nation with a population of 13 million, located on West Africa’s Atlantic coast. It has experienced steady, if limited, economic growth in recent years, but remains one of the world’s least developed countries. Over 90% of Senegal’s population is Muslim, the majority of whom adhere to an indigenous Sufi order. A semi-arid country in Africa’s Sahel region, Senegal has struggled with food insecurity and the impact of global climate change.
Although Senegal is a secular democracy and enjoys relative stability by regional standards, recent political trends have raised concerns among analysts and policy makers. President Abdoulaye Wade (pronounced “wahd”), in office since 2000, was initially credited with expanding civil liberties, liberalizing the economy, bolstering government health and education services, and negotiating a landmark peace accord in the restive southern Casamance region. He was returned to office in 2007 in an election that the State Department termed “open, peaceful, and highly competitive.” However, Wade’s reputation has since been marred by his increasingly unilateral exercise of power, along with reports of rising corruption, nepotism, and restrictions on civil liberties. The president, who is in his 80s, has announced plans to run for a third term in 2012, which may require a constitutional amendment. Public unrest has escalated over government policies and stagnant living conditions, and in March 2011, the government accused a group of opposition and civil society activists of organizing a coup attempt. Opposition groups rejected the allegations as politically motivated. Violence has also increased in Casamance since mid-2009, despite the previously successful 2004 peace deal.
The State Department refers to U.S.-Senegalese relations as “excellent,” while noting concerns over negative governance trends. 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. U.S. foreign assistance focuses on democratic governance, economic growth, rural development, public health, food security, reconciliation in Casamance, 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. 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.
Bilateral aid through State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) accounts has increased steeply in recent years, from $57.8 million in FY2008 to $106.3 million in FY2010. The Obama Administration has requested $119.9 million for FY2012, 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.
Congress may play a role in guiding U.S. policy toward Senegal through its authorization, appropriation, and oversight of foreign assistance, security cooperation programs, and executive branch policies. Some Members of Congress, for example, have expressed concern over the decision to award Senegal an MCC compact in light of recent governance trends.
Date of Report: March 25, 2011
Number of Pages: 23
Order Number: R41369
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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