33 Countries of Origin’ Profiles

SENEGAL Most Christians lives in Casamance area, in the South of Senegal and other bigger cities like Dakar and Saint-Louis. Protestants in Senegal are equally accounted for by the Protestant Church of Senegal, and the same applies to the other Christian denominations. Hinduism is practiced by people of Indian decent. Animism, on the other hand, is practiced and highly respected by many Senegalese people who choose to maintain adequately strong ancestral knowledge. The Senegalese people practice and hold dear some old beliefs such as the power of gratitude and saying thanks, protection from water and among others. The Baobab, also known as the 'House of Spirits', is a sacred tree of great importance to the Senegalese people 3 . In Senegal m arabout has an important role in the practice of Islam. The practice is transmitted from father to son and consists of a healing power and the assurance of the salvation of the faithful. The marabout also teaches the Coran and conducts ceremonies. ETHNIC GROUPS: Senegal is a very ethnically diverse country. The Wolof represents the largest ethnic group at 43%. The Fula and Toucouleur are the second-largest group at 24%, followed by the Serer (14.7%), Jola (4%), Mandinka (3%), Maurers, Bassari, Soninke, and other communities. Wolof and Serer are farmers and usually live in small rural villages in the Centre West and in the urban areas 4 . The Fulani, speaks Pulaar and are traditionally considered very devote to Islam by the other groups; they can be divided into two distinct cultural groups: a large group of semi- nomadic herders, and the Toucouleur, who are settled farmers inhabiting the Senegal River Valley. The Jola, living Senegal's southern Casamance region , are very jealous of their identity and refuses to be assimilated to the Wolof culture; most of them are fishermen and rice grower. At the present there are a lot of refugees and asylum seekers most of whom are from Mauritania and Gambia and in recent years West African migrants often use Senegal as a transit point to North Africa or Europe. There are also nearly 50,000 Europeans, French and Lebanese people in the country, along with small groups of Moroccans and Mauritanians. In urban areas, there are small groups of Vietnamese and a growing number of Chinese immigrant traders 5 . POLITICAL SITUATION: . Senegal achieved the independence from France on 1960 and now is one of the most democratic and stable country of Africa. Since 1982 the area of Casamance has been characterized by separatist movements: at the origin of the rebellion there are historical, cultural and geographical differences between south and the rest of the largely arid, Islamized north and the resentment of the Diola against the Wolof people, the dominant ethnic group who have traditionally economically and politically marginalised them. The local conflict produced thousands of internally displaced people and a lot of Senegalese were killed; in 2014 the main rebel faction (Movement of the Democratic Forces of Casamance) declared a unilateral ceasefire and political discussions with the government are ongoing, but groups are still present in Casamance, and the region continues to suffer from banditry. In 2012 Macky Sall wins presidential elections and on 2016 promoted a constitutional referendum to modernize the political regime, reducing the 3 http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/religious-beliefs-in-senegal.html 4 https://info.publicintelligence.net/MCIA-SenegalCultureGuide.pdf 5 http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/senegal-population/