Kédougou
Encyclopedia
Kédougou is a town in southeastern Senegal
at 12.56 degrees N. latitude and 12.21 degrees W, longitude and at an elevation of 547 feet (167 meters) above sea level. Founded by the Diahanké people, Kédougou means the "Land of Man". The town lies on the N7 road and the River Gambia amid the Pays Bassari hills and Fouta Djallon
foothills. It is near the borders of both Mali
and Guinea
. Local attractions include the Dindefelo Falls
and Niokolo-Koba National Park
. The main industries in the town are farming and gold mining
. There are a military camp, a health center, a community radio and library, a Peace Corps Office and a number of small businesses. The most commonly spoken languages are Pulaar
, Wollof, Milinki and French.
The mayor of Kédougou is Amath Dansokho
(as of 2005).
would serve this town.
and torture of suspects. There were also reports that many residents fled the town, some as far as Guinea
. Security forces reported one dead, 23 civilians and 10 gendarmes wounded.
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
at 12.56 degrees N. latitude and 12.21 degrees W, longitude and at an elevation of 547 feet (167 meters) above sea level. Founded by the Diahanké people, Kédougou means the "Land of Man". The town lies on the N7 road and the River Gambia amid the Pays Bassari hills and Fouta Djallon
Fouta Djallon
Fouta Djallon is a highland region in the centre of Guinea, West Africa. The indigenous name is Fuuta-Jaloo...
foothills. It is near the borders of both Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
and Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
. Local attractions include the Dindefelo Falls
Dindefelo Falls
Dindefelo Falls, located in the town of Dindefelo, is a tourist attraction and park in southeast Senegal. It is located just a few miles from the Guinean border. The falls are about 100 meters high. The park area forms part of the larger Niokolo-Koba National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere world...
and Niokolo-Koba National Park
Niokolo-Koba National Park
The Niokolo-Koba National Park is a World Heritage Site and natural protected area in south eastern Senegal near the Guinea-Bissau border.-National Park:...
. The main industries in the town are farming and gold mining
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
. There are a military camp, a health center, a community radio and library, a Peace Corps Office and a number of small businesses. The most commonly spoken languages are Pulaar
Fula language
The Fula or Fulani language is a language of West Africa. It is spoken as a first language by the and related groups from Senegambia and Guinea to Cameroon and Sudan...
, Wollof, Milinki and French.
The mayor of Kédougou is Amath Dansokho
Amath Dansokho
Amath Dansokho is a Senegalese politician and the Secretary-General of the Party of Independence and Work . He served in the government of Senegal as Minister of Urban Planning and Housing from 1991 to 1995 and again briefly in 2000; he is also a former Mayor of Kédougou.Dansokho was born in...
(as of 2005).
Transport
A proposed railway branching off the existing line at TambacoundaTambacounda
Tambacounda is the largest city in eastern Senegal, southeast of Dakar, and is the Regional capital of the province of the same name. Its estimated population in 2007 was 78,800.-Geography:...
would serve this town.
Mining
The Gold mining industry has brought several large scale foreign mining companies to the Kédougou area. This has been a source of tension with some local residents who point to a lack of jobs available to locals. In late 2008, protests over the practices of Gold mines in the region turned violent. On 23 December a protest march culminated in the burning of government buildings and the security forces firing on demonstrators. The next several days saw widespread destruction of property, looting, and according to a Senegalese Human Rights group, the mass arrestMass arrest
A mass arrest occurs when the police apprehend large numbers of suspects at once. This sometimes occurs at illegal protests. Some mass arrests are also used in an effort combat gang activity. This is sometimes controversial, and lawsuits sometimes result...
and torture of suspects. There were also reports that many residents fled the town, some as far as Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
. Security forces reported one dead, 23 civilians and 10 gendarmes wounded.