Posts Tagged ‘postal history of Senegal’

Traders from Dieppe had trading posts from 1826, but the earliest French settlement, at St Louis, dated from 1659. In the 18th century the Senegal settlements were disputed between France and Britain, but were restored to France in 1817; Goree Island had remained French throughout. In 1854 penetration inland began and by 1891 Senegal was exercising control over a large area of West Africa from St Louis to Dakar.
The Vichy regime survived an abortive Allied attempt to take Dakar (23-25 September 1940) until November 1942 when it became Free French. On 25 November 1958 Senegal accepted independence within the French Community, but joined with French Sudan on 4 April 1959 to form the Mali Federation. Senegal withdrew from this federation on 22 August 1960 and on 5 September became a republic within the French Community.

In 1842 Goree was given the first postal service in French West Africa; it was not an integral part of Senegal until 1859. The first mainland PO was at St Louis (c.1856). By 19.15, there were 55 POs in operation.

Senegal issues were also used in the region known as Rivieres du Sud (after 1892, part of French Guinea) where known POs include Conakry, Benty, Boffa, Boke, Dubreka and Victoria; also at Kaedi and Rosso (after 1906 part of Mauritania), and at Kita and Kayes (later in French Sudan). Used stamps of French West Africa from 1944-59.

President Diouf was re-elected in the first round of Presidential elections in February 1993. In August 1998, the National Assembly voted to remove the restriction that limited the President to only two 7 year terms and Diouf who was originally installed in 1981 has remained President ever since.