Wednesday 20 January 2016

SENEGAL - République du Sénégal


Senegal French: Sénégal; Wolof: Senegaal), officially the Republic of Senegal (French: République du Sénégal; Wolof: Réewum Senegaal), is a country in West Africa. Senegal is bordered by Mauritania in the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest. Senegal also surrounds The Gambia, a country occupying a narrow sliver of land along the banks of the Gambia River, which separates Senegal's southern region of Casamance from the rest of the country. Senegal also shares a maritime border with Cape Verde. Senegal's economic and political capital is Dakar

It is a unitary presidential republic and is the westernmost country in the mainland of the Old World, or Afro-Eurasia. It owes its name to the Senegal River which borders it to the east and north. Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres (76,000 sq mi) and has a population of around 16 million. The state was formed as part of the independence from French colonial rule. Because of this history, the official language is French. Like other post-colonial African states, the country includes a wide mix of ethnic and linguistic communities, with the largest being the Wolof people and the Wolof language acting as a lingua franca. Overall Senegal is home to around 39 distinct languages. Several have the legal status of "national languages": Balanta-Ganja, Hassaniya Arabic, Jola-Fonyi, Mandinka, Mandjak, Mankanya, Noon (Serer-Noon), Pulaar, Serer, Soninke, and Wolof.

The wildlife of Senegal consists of the flora and fauna of this nation in West Africa. Senegal has a long Atlantic coastline and a range of habitat types, with a corresponding diversity of plants and animals. Senegal has 188 species of mammals and 674 species of bird.

The first stamps of Senegal were issued in 1887. Before that general issues for the French Colonies were used. From 1944 to 1959, the French West Africa issues were used. The last issue of French West Africa was the Stamp Day issue on March 21, 1959, which was inscribed "CF" along with "Dakar-Abidjan" and used only in Ivory Coast and Senegal. In 1959 and early 1960 nine stamps were issued in the name of the short-lived Federation of Mali which consisted of Senegal and French Sudan. They depict symbols of the Federation with a series of fish and a common issue with some other of former French colonies in Africa. But tensions quickly arose between the two states of the new federation. Senegal then seceded, while the former Sudan retained the name of Mali, as well as the use of the Federation stamps. Stamps for the Republic of Senegal were first issued in 1960.

The covers posted on January 11, 2016 and I received them on January 24, 2015.

These  covers sent by Holger during his vacation in Senegal and Guinee. His experience in Senegal post was very nice and he said they allowed to prepare and affix postmark himself perfectly. They use UPU label, so I am very happy when I got Registered airmail covers with UPU label. The cover sent on January 11, 2016 and I received on January 24, 2016.

My friend Holger prepares covers in Dakar G.P.O, Senegal

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