Senegal

A military coup in Guinea-Bissau forced ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló to flee to Senegal following the Economic Community of West African States (ECWAS) intervention.

About Senegal

• Senegal is a key West African coastal nation with the capital at Dakar.
• Location and Borders: Bordered by Mauritania (N), Mali (E), Guinea & Guinea-Bissau (S), and the Atlantic Ocean (W).
  • The Gambia forms an enclave stretching inland along the Gambia River.
• Major Geographical Regions
  • Cap-Vert Peninsula: Westernmost point of continental Africa.
  • Sahelian Zone: Semi-arid belt with low rainfall and sparse vegetation.
    • Baunez Ridge (648 m)  country’s highest point lies in this region.
  • Sudanian Zone: South of the Sahel; higher rainfall, savannah woodlands, and agricultural suitability.
  • Casamance Region: Southern tropical zone with forests and wetlands with the Casamance River, supporting farming and fishing.
• Rivers and Water Systems
  • Senegal River forms the northern boundary and is vital for irrigation and fisheries.
  • Gambia River bisects the country before entering The Gambia.
  • Saloum Delta features mangroves and tidal waterways.

About ECOWAS

• The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional political-economic bloc established to promote integration, collective self-sufficiency, and stability across West Africa.
• Establishment: Formed in 1975 through the Treaty of Lagos, ECOWAS initially focused on economic cooperation.
  • The 1993 Revised Treaty expanded its mandate to governance, peacekeeping, and security. I
• Headquarters: Abuja, Nigeria.
• Objective: To build an integrated, economically unified, stable, and peaceful West African region that improves living standards and enhances collective development.
• Current Members : 12 members (2025): Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Togo.
  • Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their exit from ECOWAS in Jan 2025.

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