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Sub-Saharan Africa
Senegal, located at the extreme western tip of Africa, is politically stable with a long democratic tradition and a growing economy. Yet it is one of the least developed countries in the world. It has few natural resources and its climate limits the possibilities for agriculture: two thirds of the country is in the Sahel zone. Although the mean annual rainfall would be sufficient to sustain high-yield agriculture, it does not rain regularly enough. As a result, periods of drought repeatedly occur and crops frequently fail. Further problems are caused by the over-exploitation of natural resources. Logging and overgrazing give rise to serious environmental degradation. In the face of this situation, many people migrate out of the rural areas: nearly half the country's population now lives in urban areas, while one in five Senegalese lives in the capital city Dakar. As a result, slum areas are growing, environmental burdens are increasing, and there is a high level of youth unemployment. Strong population growth – around three per cent – serves to aggravate this situation.
Senegal is divided by its neighbour Gambia into a northern part and a smaller southern part. In the southern region, Casamance, the high degree of political and economic isolation from the rest of the country has led to the emergence of an independence movement. There has been violent conflict there since 1982. The conflict has led to loss of life, refugee movements, and internal displacement, as well as destroying the infrastructure and bringing agriculture to a halt. More than 800,000 people are either directly or indirectly affected.
Development cooperation
First contacts with the Federal Republic of Germany were established very shortly after the Republic of Senegal secured its independence in 1960. Since then, good relations have been maintained with this West African nation.
The overarching objective of German involvement in Senegal is to combat poverty. The governments of Senegal and Germany have agreed to focus their cooperation on three priority areas: sustainable economic development, support for decentralisation and local development – with particular attention to peace-building in Casamance – and the promotion of renewal energies and energy efficiency.
German Embassy

German Embassy in Senegal
20, Avenue Pasteur
B.P. 2100
Dakar
Senegal
Phone: +22 / 1 / 33 889 48 85
Fax: +22 / 1 / 33 822 52 99






