Senegal
Senegal: Teranga at Heart, Democracy in the Soul
Senegal is the land of teranga — that untranslatable Wolof word for hospitality elevated to the rank of supreme value. With 18 million inhabitants, this West African country is an exception on the continent: never a military coup, peaceful transitions of power, and an Islamic-Christian coexistence that sets an example. In March 2024, Senegal added a spectacular chapter to its democratic history: the election of Bassirou Diomaye Faye, aged 44, after a three-year political crisis.
Senegalese Democracy: A Model Shaken but Standing
Senegal is the only country in continental West Africa to have never experienced a coup d'état. From Senghor to Diouf, from Wade to Macky Sall, every transition has taken place through the ballot box. But the 2021–2024 period tested this model: Macky Sall suspected of seeking a third term, opposition leader Sonko imprisoned, violent protests. The Constitutional Council invalidated the postponement of the election, and the opposition candidate won in the first round. This scenario demonstrates the depth of Senegalese institutions.
The Ubuntu Strength: Teranga, Brotherhoods and Joking Kinship
The Ubuntu score of 78/100 is explained by three pillars. First, teranga: in Senegal, refusing to share your meal is unthinkable. Thiéboudienne is always eaten together, around the bowl. Then, the Sufi brotherhoods — Mourides, Tidjanes, Layènes — which structure social and spiritual life. The Grand Magal of Touba gathers more than 3 million pilgrims. Finally, religious coexistence: in a country that is 95% Muslim, Christians hold top positions. The first president, Senghor, was Catholic.
« Nit, nit ay garabam »
Man is the remedy of man
— Proverb wolof
Senegal teaches us that democracy is not a Western luxury but an African conquest, that hospitality is the foundation of civilisation, and that religious diversity can be a strength. Senegal has made this proverb a national policy: it is through others, with others, that we build the joy of living.