Senegal

After winning independence from France in 1960, Senegal entered four decades of socialist rule. In 1982 Senegal and The Gambia, which is virtually an enclave of its larger neighbor, joined forces as Senegambia but broke apart seven years later. Despite some dissatisfaction from separatists, the Republic of Senegal is a stable democracy, which takes an active role in international peacekeeping. Since 1994, when the government made a strong commitment to economic reform, Senegal has experienced steady growth. The economy has become more diversified through industries that include agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials, and ship construction and repair.

More resources are now being directed toward government programs as a result of Senegal's participation in the Highly Indebted Poor Countries debt ...