History History

Birth of the empire of Ghana, located between the valleys of Niger and Senegal. The kingdom prospers thanks to its production and export of gold to North Africa and Europe. In the meantime, in the 9th century, the Tekrour Empire was born in the north-east of present-day Senegal, whose capital is Podor. It is inhabited by black people of high stature who live from agriculture and cattle breeding. In 1080, the Almoravids, Berber warrior monks, invaded Tekrour and began the Islamization of Senegal. Its capital was razed to the ground and the empire of Ghana was destroyed.

Just before the middle of the 13th century, the Muslim Ndiadiane Ndiaye seized power in the Walo region. A fable presents him as a descendant of an Almoravid chief who emerges from the ocean to settle a dispute between fishermen. At first taken for a djinn (genie), he is then celebrated as the one chosen to unify the Wolof and govern them. Hence his reputation as the founder of the kingdom of Djolof. Extending his kingdom, Ndiadiane Ndiaye ruled a true empire, which, in addition to the Walo, included the Cayor, Baol, Sine-Saloum, Dimar and part of the Bambouk, leaving the Tekrour free. This state, whose hierarchy is regulated in precise codes, probably embodies the cornerstone of Wolof identity, the main ethnic group in the country today.

The influence of the Djolof kingdom is however shaded by that of the almighty empire of Mali, under whose rule it will fall regularly for the following centuries. The griots sing the Malinke, inhabitants of the Mande (Mandingo region), as originating from Arabia. Several rulers succeeded one another and constantly widened the borders. The empire of Mali is the spearhead of the opening of the Mediterranean to Africa. Its Berber caravans ply the trade routes of the oases, trading gold, ivory and ostrich feathers for salt, cotton and Venetian glasswork. In its cities, from Djenne to Timbuktu, high places of cultural exchange between the black and Islamic worlds, Muslims and Christians, Jews and animists coexist. In the meantime, mired in disputes over succession, the kingdom of Djolof, which was generally under the control of the Songhaï Empire until the 16th century, split into several autonomous entities that nevertheless retained the same organization.

In 1444, the Portuguese reached the Senegalese coast. Very quickly, they set up the first trading posts at Rufisque, Gorée and Joal.

The slave trade, organized by the Portuguese, begins. Servants converted to Christianity are then sent to the sugar cane plantations of the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores. The Dutch settlers bought the island of Goree and built the first fort.

Named after the King of France, Saint-Louis was founded on the island of N'Dar by the Norman Louis Caullier in 1659. Ideally located, it became the starting point of several expeditions and the first French trading post in Africa. In 1677, the French chased the Dutch out of Gorée and settled there. While struggling to keep their trading posts, the Europeans developed an important slave trade. It is estimated that 12.5 million Africans were forcibly shipped to America, of which slightly more than a tenth did not survive the crossing.

Coveted by the Dutch, British and French, Senegal was granted to France when the Treaty of Paris was signed. The French tried to establish an agricultural colony producing cotton and indigo. The project fails and trade becomes the main activity.

Several decades after the British, France definitively abolished slavery in its colonies.

A French soldier who had taken part in the conquest of Algeria, Louis Faidherbe's arrival in Senegal in 1852 brought with it the Algerian model, which would influence him throughout his career. Appointed governor in 1854, he applied the same energetic policy to the development of the colony, which was bogged down in the aftermath of slavery and whose trade was paralyzed by exactions of all kinds. He put an end to the system of customs by force, obtaining an amnesty from the Trarza and the annexation of Walo to the colony. He also undertook the pacification of the interior region, where he found himself pitted against the Toucouleur Oumar Tall and then the king of Cayor, Lat Dior Diop. A man of administration, he clothed the conquered territories in a model where colonial rulers used local elites to govern more flexibly. Among other things, he created indigenous courts, built the Dakar-Saint-Louis railroad line and developed the ports of Rufisque and Dakar. However, the Algerian model had its downside, and many of its detractors. Bordeaux merchants turned against him because of his harsh trade policy. In 1865, he handed over the governorship to Émile Pinet-Laprade.

Louis Faidherbe is governor of the colony. He spearheaded the territorial expansion, always justified by the optimization of trade. His path crossed that of Oumar Tall, founder of the Toucouleur Empire. In 1857, the two troops clashed in Medina and two years later in Matam. After unsuccessful conquests, Oumar Tall resigned himself to signing a peace treaty with the French in 1860.

Creation of Mouridism by Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba, who founded the city of his dreams, Touba. It is also the beginning of his persecution by the colonial power.

Creation of French West Africa (AOF), grouping together the territories under French domination. The capital is Saint-Louis. The same year, Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba is imprisoned and deported to Gabon.

Dakar becomes the capital of the AOF, replacing Saint-Louis. It is governed by Ernest Roume who launches urbanization works. At the end of November, Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba returns from exile, acclaimed by the crowd. On 14 June 1903, he constitutes himself a prisoner and is sent to Mauritania for compulsory residence.

Blaise Diagne, who became the first black African deputy in the French National Assembly, succeeded in having the law of 29 September 1916 promulgating French nationality to the inhabitants of the Four Communes (Dakar, Gorée, Rufisque and Saint-Louis) passed.

When she was born in 1872 on the island of Gorée, her father, a Sérère from Senegal, and her mother, a Mandjak from Portuguese Guinea (Guinea-Bissau), gave her the name Gaiaye Mbaye Diagne. The young Diagne proves to be brilliant and seduces a patriarch among the mulattoes of the island, Adolphe Crespin. The latter adopts him, enrols him in the school of the Brothers of Ploërmel and gives him the first names of Blaise and Adolphe. Blaise Diagne seems to have been almost a century ahead of his time. He entered the political arena at a time when political combat was the preserve of Europeans and mulattos. He experienced this during his school trips to French overseas territories and in the face of a colonial administration lacking in open-mindedness. Nicknamed the "Voice of Africa", he was the first black African to sit at the Palais Bourbon and obtained French nationality for the inhabitants of the Four Communes. He also advocated bringing black Senegalese people closer to the metropolis, which fully justified, to his taste, the enlistment of 200,000 skirmishers in the "European" conflict of the First World War. Arguing against his detractors that "common efforts, common sacrifices" eventually corresponded to a "common destiny", Blaise Diagne sided with humanity, the future of Senegal and France, which he wanted united above all else.

After the creation of the French Union in 1946, the status of the colonies changed. They are now considered as "overseas departments and territories". The first steps towards emancipation were taken.

Senegal gained its independence within the Federation of Mali. But disagreements over the appointment of officials are such that on 20 August, the Federation breaks up and the Assembly proclaims Senegal's independence. On 5 September, Léopold Sédar Senghor is elected President of the Senegalese Republic. He begins a 7-year term.

Prime Minister Mamadou Dia is arrested on charges of violating the rights of parliament; Léopold Sédar Senghor then exercises full executive power.

The President shall hold a referendum to obtain approval of the new Constitution to establish a presidential system. The yes side wins triumphantly with 99% of the votes.

Both a poet and a politician, Léopold Sédar Senghor undoubtedly marked his century. In Paris, where Senghor founded L'Etudiant noir with Aimé Césaire and Léon-Gontran Damas, it is the committed writer who speaks. He hid his poems, however, until political recognition, in 1945, consecrated him as a member of parliament in Senegal. It was then that he published Chants d'ombre, his first collection of poems. He fights with his words for negritude in an "anti-racist racism" as much as he fights to lead his country towards the path he considers the best, that of non-guardianship, with a return to fundamental values. The triumph in the 1951 elections was due above all to the campaign he led in the bush, travelling the country to spread his trail of African-style socialism, the third path he claimed as unimported. At the time of independence, Senghor moved General de Gaulle with these words from December 1959: "At this very moment when we are demanding independence, we ask you, stay with us, because it is getting late. "Would the politician have used the poet's rhetoric? The "two-in-one" was elected in 1963 as head of the country with more than 99% of the votes. It must be said that, as the sole candidate of a single party, Senghor embodied less democracy than his successor, former Prime Minister Abdou Diouf, who took his place when he resigned in 1981. Of the self-fallen Senghor, we retain above all only the poet and man of culture, the first African member of the French Academy.

In view of the forthcoming elections, the National Assembly adopted a law granting amnesty to all political prisoners and endorsed the multiparty system.

Presidential election. For the first time, Léopold Sédar Senghor faces an opposition candidate, none other than Abdoulaye Wade. However, the incumbent president won the elections with 80.20% of the vote.

At the age of 74, Léopold Sédar Senghor voluntarily left power and gave way to his Prime Minister Abdou Diouf.

First clashes in Casamance during a peaceful march of separatists that turned into a drama. This is the beginning of an armed independence rebellion.

Abdou Diouf is confirmed as president by universal suffrage. He wins more than 83% of the votes. On the same day, legislative elections were held, which were won by the Socialist Party with almost 80% of the votes.

Economic and social context of crisis. President Abdou Diouf is reappointed with 73% of the votes. The opposition contests the results. Confrontations. Proclamation of a state of emergency. The leader of the opposition, Abdoulaye Wade, accused of violence during the elections, is arrested and sentenced to one year in prison.

Created in 1981, the Confederation of Senegambia is dissolved. Following the looting of shops run by Mauritanians in Senegal, about 200 Senegalese are massacred in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou in northern Mauritania. Curfew is introduced.

Devaluation of the FCFA by 50%. This decision causes social tension. It gives rise to violent demonstrations in Dakar that lead to the arrest of the opponent Abdoulaye Wade, who spends a few months in prison.

The outgoing President, Abdou Diouf, was defeated in the second round of the presidential election by Abdoulaye Wade, who won with 58.49% of the votes. Wade appointed Mustapha Niasse as Prime Minister.

A new Constitution is adopted by referendum. Among other things, the presidential term of office is reduced from 7 to 5 years. Two months later, Mame Madior Boye became the first Senegalese woman to become Prime Minister, succeeding Moustapha Niasse.

Legislative elections. The ruling party and its allies won 89 of the 120 seats in the National Assembly.

The ferry Le Joola, which used to run between Ziguinchor in Casamance and Dakar, sank off the coast of Gambia, killing nearly 1,900 people according to the authorities and more than 2,000 according to the families of victims. Only 64 survivors were found.

Peace agreement signed between the Senegalese government and the Casamance rebels of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC). The situation on the ground then calmed considerably, heralding a resumption of tourism and commercial activities.

The outgoing head of state, Abdoulaye Wade, was declared the winner of the presidential election in the first round, with 55.86% of the vote.

Legislative elections, boycotted by the majority of the political opposition and won by the ruling party coalition (Sopi Coalition). These elections led to the installation of an enlarged National Assembly, which grew from 120 to 150 deputies.

The Senate, which had been dissolved in 2001, was re-established in May 2007 under the presidency of Abdoulaye Wade and senatorial elections were held. 35 seats, including 34 for the PDS, are filled by the electorate (deputies and local elected representatives) out of 100 in the Senate.

Municipal elections marked by a victory of the opposition coalition, Benno Siggil Senegaal ("Unite for a Senegal that stands", in Wolof), in Senegal's main municipalities, including Dakar, Kaolack and Thies. The ruling coalition, Coalition Sopi, won in cities such as Tambacounda, Kolda or Ziguinchor.

Celebration of the 50th anniversary of Senegal's independence with great pomp and circumstance. The Renaissance Monument in Dakar is inaugurated on this occasion.

Violent protests are taking place throughout the country against a proposed constitutional reform that would provide for the simultaneous election, by direct universal suffrage, of a president and a vice-president. The government finally withdrew the bill in the evening. This was followed by the "23 June Movement", a grouping of opposition and civil society parties, which demonstrated continuously, at least once a month, until the elections. Objective: to invalidate the (3rd) announced candidacy of Abdoulaye Wade and put all means in place to ensure that the 2012 presidential election is held in a transparent manner.

The validation of Abdoulaye Wade's candidacy by the Constitutional Council and the invalidation of Youssou N'Dour's candidacy mark the beginning of an electoral campaign marred by violence and incidents. On the brink of collapse, the population is nevertheless relying on the power of the ballot box, led by the opposition coalition.

Outgoing President Abdoulaye Wade was defeated in the second round of the presidential election by Macky Sall, who won with 65.80 per cent of the votes. He immediately acknowledged his opponent's victory. Macky Sall succeeded him on 2 April.

Parliamentary elections: President Macky Sall's coalition, Benno Bokk Yakaar, won 119 of the 150 seats in the National Assembly. A comfortable seat to hope to govern well.

Referendum: President Macky Sall calls on the people to vote for or against a constitutional review. Among the points submitted are the restoration of the five-year presidential term, a reform of the Constitutional Council, the right of independent candidates to stand for election. The "yes" vote won with 62.7 per cent of the votes.

Legislative elections. The presidential coalition Benno Bokk Yakaar won the elections by a majority with 125 of the 165 seats in the National Assembly and 49.48% of the votes cast. Opposition parties denounced an "electoral masquerade" because of a controversy over the organisation of the elections. The party of former President Abdoulaye Wade won only 19 seats.

Presidential election. The outgoing president, Macky Sall, was re-elected in the first round with 58.27% of the votes for a 5-year term. He was far ahead of his opponents, with former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck winning 20.5% of the vote and Ousmane Soko 15.67%.

The Assembly adopts the draft revision of the Constitution with 124 votes in favour, 7 "no" votes and 7 abstentions. This revision provides, inter alia, for the abolition of the post of Prime Minister, the abolition of the motion of censure and the impossibility for the President to dissolve the Assembly.

President Macky Sall promulgates the law to abolish the post of Prime Minister, thereby strengthening the country's presidential system. Mahammed Dionne, Prime Minister since 6 July 2014, is then removed from office and becomes Secretary General of the Presidency.

Demonstration in support of Ousmane Sonko, the main opponent of Macky Sall. The streets of Dakar, as well as several cities in the country, went up in flames. The government reported 13 deaths.

Municipal and departmental elections. The Senegalese elected their mayors and department presidents for the first time by direct universal suffrage. The opposition won a large number of towns, including Dakar and Ziguinchor.

Senegal is crowned African champion at the CAN 2022, in Cameroon. After two lost finals in 2002 and 2019, the Lions of Teranga win the trophy in a penalty shootout against Egypt.

On May 16, the rape trial against Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko, declared candidate in the February 2024 presidential election, opened in Dakar. Violent clashes broke out between supporters of the opponent and Malick Sall in the capital and in Ziguinchor, Sonko's stronghold. The trial was postponed until May 23. It opened under great tension, in the absence of the accused. After further riots in the country, the politician was placed under house arrest in Dakar. The verdict came down on June¹: Ousmane Sonko was acquitted of the rape charges, but sentenced to two years in prison for youth corruption. The country goes up in flames again, with 23 people killed.

With the country still reeling from the deadly events of June, President Macky Sall has announced that he will not stand for a third term. For several months, his opponents had been denouncing the illegality of his potential candidacy, while Macky Sall defended them by explaining that the Constitution had been amended concerning the maximum number of mandates during his first election. Consequently, his first term should not be taken into account.

Ten days after Macky Sall renounced his bid to run in the 2024 presidential elections, Ousmane Sonko has been invested by his Pastef-Les Patriotes party as a presidential candidate, although his eligibility is not certain due to his conviction.

The Supreme Court validates the six-month suspended prison sentence handed down to imprisoned opponent Ousmane Sonko for defamation, confirming his ineligibility to stand in the presidential elections. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, number 2 of PASTEF, wins the party's nomination and the support of Ousmane Sonko. Although he was prosecuted for disseminating false news, contempt of court and defamation but not convicted, his candidacy was validated on January 20 by the Constitutional Council.

In the midst of the controversy surrounding the Constitutional Council's rejection of several candidacies, Macky Sall announced the postponement of the presidential elections on February 2, which was approved a few days later by the National Assembly, thereby extending the incumbent president's term of office. However, two weeks later, these decisions were overturned by the Constitutional Council, which called for the elections to be held before April 2, 2024, the end of Macky Sall's term of office.

In order to promote national reconciliation and calm tensions following the postponement of elections, Macky Sall announced a general amnesty law for all acts linked to political demonstrations between 2021 and 2024. On March 6, the amnesty bill was passed by the National Assembly, and a few days later, political opponents including Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye were released from prison. Presidential elections were held peacefully on March 24. Bassirou Diomaye Faye won the first round by a wide margin, with 54.28% of the vote. He was inaugurated on April 2, becoming Senegal's^5th president.