Senegal
Senegal, also known as the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country on the continent of Africa. It has a total land area of 196,190 sq km, and is on the coastline of the North Atlantic Ocean, bordered by the countries of: Gambia, Guinea, Mali, and Mauritania. The capital city of Senegal is Dakar.
Background
The French colonies of Senegal and the French Sudan were merged in 1959 and granted their independence as the Mali Federation in 1960. The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal was ruled by the Socialist Party for 40 years until current President Abdoulaye WADE was elected in 2000. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982, but the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The most significant threat within Senegal since the 1980s has been led by the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC). Although a peace agreement was signed in December 2004, internal rifts continue to keep the peace process deadlocked. Nevertheless, Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.
Climate
The tropical climate of Senegal is normally hot and humid. The rainy season is from May to November, and the dry season is from December to April. The inland regions are drier than the coast areas, and have many sandy, desertlike plains. The southern portion of the country receives more rainfall than the northern.
Population
Senegal has a population of approximately 12,521,851. Almost half the population is under 14 years of age. The majority of the population (94%) is Muslim, with a minority of Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), and 1% of other beliefs. Senegal is considered an underdeveloped country, as many people do not have access to good health care or education. Less than 40% of the population aged 15 years or older are literate. Over half the population live below the poverty line.
Plants
The trees common to Senegal are: the silk-cotton tree, bamboo tree, African teak, gingerbread plum, tallow tree, acacias, African locust bean, palm tree, kapok, baobab, coconut, mango, and mangrove tree.
Agriculture
A majority of the population of Senegal is involved in farming or fishing. The main agricultural products produced are: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables. The primary animal products are cattle, poultry, pork, and fish.
References
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sg.html
http://www.travelblog.org/World/sg-geog.html
http://www.mapsofworld.com/country-profile/senegal-information-geography-history.html