Space
Program of Senegal
------The Senegalese Space Agency------
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Level = 0 Development: Very Low
What has been going on in Senegal?
What kind of space power do they have?
Does Senegal have space weapons?
What are they planning over there? |
Population: 12,000,000 / Language: French / GDP: $1200 / Cities: Dakar
OVERVIEW
Senegal has been held up as one of Africa's model democracies. It has an established multi-party system and a tradition of civilian rule. Although poverty is widespread and unemployment is high, the country has one of the region's more stable economies. 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.
AT-A-GLANCE
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 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. On the world stage, Senegal has sent peacekeeping troops to DR Congo, Liberia and Kosovo. Full name: Republic of Senegal
President: Abdoulaye Wade Abdoulaye Wade, the founder of the Senegalese Democratic Party, won presidential elections at the fifth attempt, defeating Abdou Diouf's Socialist Party in March 2000. He was 73 at the time.
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Senegal's Space Infrastructure Senegal is one of the world's poorest countries, but unlike its neighbors in the extremely poverty stricken swathe from West Africa to the Horn in the East, Senegal has a long and coherent history- a tradition of centralized statehood. Not only does it not have an agency, but also no infrastructure in which one would arise. The University of Senegal in Dakar does not offer astrophysics, astronautics or aeronautics, while the government has no ministry devoted to science of this type. Senegal has no history of being part of any organization dealing with space, nor has any launch capability. Senegal lacks the industrial base, the educational base and the political foundation for a process like this to occur within it. Senegal operates no satellites and, not having a presence, has no space power. The government of Senegal in Dakar has no plans for attempting to further any ambition in space development or research.
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Timeline of Events in Zambia ...From the Past to the Future 8th century - Present-day Senegal is part of the Kingdom of Ghana. 11th century - Tukulor occupy lower Senegal valley. 12-14th centuries - Rise of the Jolof empire. 1440s - Portuguese traders reach Senegal river estuary. 1588 - Dutch establish slave port on island of Goree. 1659 - French found St-Louis at the mouth of the Senegal river; it becomes a key slave-trading port. 1677 - French take over island of Goree from the Dutch. 1756-63 - Seven Years' War: Britain takes over French posts in Senegal, forms colony of Senegambia. France regains its holdings during American Revolutionary War of 1775-83. 1816 - Britain returns French holdings captured during Napoleonic Wars. late 1800s - France extends its influence, gains control of all the territory of Senegal. 1895 - Senegal becomes part of French West Africa. 1914 - Blaise Diagne elected as Senegal's first African deputy to French parliament. 1946 - Senegal becomes part of the French Union. 1956 - National Assembly established. 1958 - Becomes an autonomous republic, as part of the French Community. Independence 1960 June - Senegal becomes independent, as part of Mali Federation. 1960 August - Senegal pulls out of Mali Federation, becomes separate republic with Leopold Senghor as president. 1962 - Attempted coup led by Prime Minister Mamadou Dia. Dia is imprisoned until 1974. 1963 - First constitution drawn-up. 1966 - Senghor's Senegalese Progressive Union becomes country's sole political party. 1978 - Three-party political system introduced. 1981 - Leopold Senghor steps down; Abdou Diouf becomes president in 1981. 1982 - Senegambian Confederation formed; Senegal and neighbouring Gambia aim to combine military and security forces. 1982 - Separatists in southern province of Casamance form Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC). 1988 - Diouf re-elected. 1989 - Senegambian Confederation dissolved. Dispute over grazing rights in southern Mauritania sparks violent unrest in Senegal and Mauritania. 1992 - Diplomatic relations with Mauritania restored. 1993 - Diouf re-elected for third term Political change 2000 March - Opposition leader Abdoulaye Wade wins second round of presidential elections, ending 40 years of Socialist Party rule. 2001 January - Voters back new constitution which shortens presidential term, limits holder to two terms, and gives president power to dissolve parliament. 2001 March - Government signs peace accord with separatist rebels in Casamance. But there is little follow-up as separatists go through splits and leadership changes. 2001 April - Abdoulaye Wade's Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) wins an overwhelming majority in parliamentary elections. 2001 December - Leopold Senghor, founding father of Senegal, dies aged 95. 2002 September - Joola ferry disaster: 1,863 passengers are killed when the Senegalese vessel capsizes off the Gambian coast. 2002 November - President Wade sacks the prime minister and the rest of the government; the move is said to be linked to the handling of the Joola ferry disaster. 2004 December - Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC) and government sign pact aimed at ending secessionist struggle in province of Casamance. 2005 July - Former PM Idrissa Seck is charged with undermining state security, sparking clashes between his supporters and police. He is jailed for a time, but is released in February 2006 after the charge is dropped. 2005 October - Dispute with neighbouring Gambia over ferry tariffs on the border leads to a transport blockade. The economies of both countries suffer. Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo brokers talks to resolve the issue. 2006 August - The army launches an offensive against rebels from a faction of the Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC). Senegal and Spain agree to jointly patrol the Senegalese coast to curb the exodus of illegal migrants heading for Europe. Senegal is a favourite starting point for migrants setting off in rickety boats. |
TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE
Nothing Planned
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