Although poverty is widespread and unemployment is high, the country has one of the region's more stable economies.

OVERVIEW

For the Senegalese, political participation and peaceful leadership changes are not new. Even as a colony Senegal had representatives in the French parliament. And the promoter of African culture, Leopold Senghor, who became president at independence in 1960, voluntarily handed over power to Abdou Diouf in 1980.

The 40-year rule of Senegal's Socialist Party came to a peaceful end in elections in 2000, which were hailed as a rare democratic power transfer on a continent plagued by coups, conflict and election fraud.

Senegal is on the western-most part of the bulge of Africa and includes desert in the north and a moist, tropical south. Slaves, ivory and gold were exported from the coast during the 17th and 18th centuries and now the economy is based mainly on agriculture. The money sent home by Senegalese living abroad is a key source of revenue.

A long-running, low-level separatist war in the southern Casamance region has claimed hundreds of lives. The conflict broke out over claims by the region's Dioula people that they were being marginalised by the Wolof, Senegal's main ethnic group.

The government and rebels signed a peace pact at the end of 2004, raising hopes for reconciliation in the region.

On the world stage, Senegalese troops have undertaken peacekeeping duties in DR Congo, Liberia and Kosovo.

FACTS

• Population: 10.6 million (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Dakar
• Area: 196,722 sq km (75,955 sq miles)
• Major language: French (official), Wolof
• Major religion: Islam
• Life expectancy: 54 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
• Main exports: Fish, peanuts, petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
• GNI per capita: US $540 (World Bank, 2005)
• Internet domain: .sn
• International dialling code: +221

LEADERS

President: Abdoulaye Wade

A lawyer and a veteran politician, Mr Wade has been exiled and imprisoned several times.

President Abdoulaye Wade, an advocate of democracy in Africa

He founded the Senegalese Democratic Party and has run in five presidential races.

He found himself in a political impasse when he was elected in March 2000. The presidential polls were not held at the same time as legislative elections, and his coalition government was in a minority in parliament.

But elections in April 2001 consolidated Mr Wade's power base by giving his supporters control of the national assembly. His party won 89 of the 120 parliamentary seats

An advocate of democratisation, Mr Wade was closely involved in the launch of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, or Nepad. The plan aims to bring about economic recovery through African-led reforms and good governance. He has sought to strengthen ties with the US.

Abdoulaye Wade was born in 1927. He has a French wife and has studied in France.

Senegal has a lively political scene, with parties competing across ethnic, religious and ideological lines.