Senegal
Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.
Despite economic difficulties, businesses do not perceive any immediate instability in the political situation. There is concern for the medium term about the growing pressures of population growth and urban unemployment. Demonstrations occur from time to time in Dakar, but these are most often peaceful.
The Senegalese Army is non-political and highly professional. While the judiciary is in sore need of strengthening as an institution, there is generally de facto and de jure respect for civil liberties, including freedom of speech and press, association, movement, and respect for the right of citizens to change their government.
The southern region of Casamance has seen a low-level separatist insurgency for two decades. In December 2004, the Senegalese government and members of the MFDC insurgency agreed to end to hostilities and negotiate toward a definitive end to the conflict. Most of the Casamance region is calm, notably the major towns and tourist areas, but there are still pockets of armed rebels and bandits in the countryside. Such groups conduct armed robberies and carjacking from time to time, or loot local shops. They are especially active along the borders with Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. The risk of attack goes up after dark. Western embassies advise against travel south of the Cap Skirring road and Highway 6, and off of paved highways in the northern part of Casamance along the Gambian border. Land mines are a serious concern in the area.
