SENEGAL: PRESIDENT SENGHOR TO VISIT OS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06773334
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: January 28, 2019
• Case Number: F-2018-00186
• Publication Date: May 26, 1978

Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 C06773334
National
Foreign
Assessment
Center
Africa
Weekly Review
26 May 1978
26 May 1978
Copy
0
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
(WNINTEL)
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
NFAC publications are available on microfiche. To get a
microfiche copy of this publication call 7177 (OCR/DSB); for future
issuances in addition to or in lieu of hard copies, call 5203 (PPG/RD).
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
AFRICA WEEKLY REVIEW
26 May 1978
CONTENTS
NR Record
Senegal: President Senghor To Visit US. . .
Long a leader among moderate West African
states, Senghor will probably emphasize his
concerns about Soviet influence in Africa.
5
NR
This publication is prepared for regional specialists in the Washington community by
the Africa Division, Office of Regional and Political Analysis, with occasional
contributions from other offices within the National Foreign Assessment Center.
The Africa weekly focuses on major African issues and their implications. We solicit
comments on the articles as well as suggestions on topics that might be treated in
future issues. Comments and queries can be directed to the authors of the individual
articles or to
Record
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
Senegal: President Senghor To Visit US
President Leopold Senghor will make a private visit
to the US from 2 to 9 June, including a session with
President Carter. The Senegalese President has domi-
nated his country's politics for 28 years and has long
been a leader among West Africa's moderate French-speak-
ing states. Senghor is preoccupied with Soviet and
Cuban intervention in Africa, and during his talks in
Washington he is likely to stress that the US do more
to counter this activity.
In office since Senegal's independence was declared
in 1960, Senghor was recently elected to his fifth con-
secutive term. An internationally recognized poet and
philosopher, the President possesses an impressive blend
of intellectual and political skills. His stature as
an African elder statesman, his personal diplomacy, and
his long-established relationships with world political
and intellectual leaders give Senegal more influence
than is justified by its limited economic and military
resources.
A Roman Catholic in a predominantly Muslim country,
Senghor is adept at balancing Senegal's diverse inter-
ests and reconciling political foes. He appears to have
no significant internal opposition, though he has been
occasionally criticized by discontented students and
workers for his close ties with France.
Senghor the Man
Senghor is the archetype of the bicultural African:
he moves as gracefully and comfortably in French culture
as he does in African. Senghor was born into a large
and wealthy family of high traditional status. His
father was related to a local king. In his early years
he lived with his mother's brother, a shepherd, who
taught him the cultural traditions of his people. From
French Catholic missionaries, who often showed little
26 May 1978
5
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
--srsit.EL
sympathy for his African background, he learned the
rudiments of French language and culture. His extraor-
dinary linguistic skills permitted him to penetrate
French culture further than any other African: he be-
came the first black African qualified to teach in
French lycees; and he was made the official grammarian
among the drafters of the 1958 French constitution. His
African heritage, however, gave him a strong sense of
affinity with other black students in Paris, and to-
gether they developed the ethnocentric philosophy of
negritude, of which Senghor was to become the most
articulate champion. His poetry reflects his hopes for
the people of black Africa.
Over the past two years, the 71-year-old Senghor
has worked at establishing a three-party democratic
system to prepare Senegal for his eventual passing and
to strengthen his own party by giving it competition.
In the country's first multiparty presidential and par-
liamentary elections last February, Senghor and his
centrist Socialist Party captured 82 percent of the
vote
A Moderate Foreign Policy
Although Senghor has tried to maintain a nonaligned
position, he is essentially Western-oriented. His fear
that moderate African states are being isolated has
prompted such Senegalese initiatives as the 1977 non-
aggression and defense pact between members of the fran-
cophone West African Economic Community and a resolu-
tion at the July 1977 OAU summit comdemning foreign in-
terference in Africa.
Concerned about the Soviet presence in Mali and
other neighboring countries, Senghor has begun a gradual
buildup of his armed forces and will seek US help in his
efforts to modernize outdated military equipment. When
modernization is completed, Senegal's defensive capa-
bility will still be marginal but Senegal can rely on
its mutual defense pact with France.
Recently, Senegal and the Ivory Coast reestablished
diplomatic relations with the leftist Guinean Govern-
ment, with which they had been at odds for nearly 20
26 May 1978
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
years. Senghor Senghor is interested in improving and maintain-
ing relations with his country's neighbors to help solve
common problems and perhaps develop some sort of defense
against further factionalism in West Africa.
Senghor has steadfastly refused to establish dip-
lomatic relations with the Cuban-backed Angolan Govern-
ment. In collaboration with the French Government, he
is a strong supporter of Jonas Savimbi, leader of the
principal insurgent group. Senghor may well ask for US
assistance for Savimbi.
Senghor considers himself a mediator. He has, for
example, persistently tried to promote dialogue between
Israel and the Arabs and has maintained contact with
both sides. He has also maintained contacts with lib-
eral white South Africans, whom he sees as having the
same rights as black Africans.
Senegal's relations with the Soviets, never good,
have worsened with the growing Soviet involvement in
Africa. Senghor is particularly concerned about the
conflict in the Western Sahara, where he believes the
Algerians are acting as a Soviet proxy to destabilize
West Africa. He is concerned that the Western Sahara
conflict might eventually involve Senegal should Mauri-
tania falter. Under the Franco-Senegalese defense pact,
French fighter aircraft are currently based near Dakar
for use against Algerian-backed Polisario incursions
into Mauritania.
US-Senegalese relations are good. US trade, assis-
tance, and investments have gradually expanded since 1970,
making the US Senegal's second largest trade partner,
after France. Trade is likely/to grow due to Senegal's
decision to increase import duties on goods originating
within the European Community, with which Senegal is
associated. Senegal has received US assistance to com-
bat the drought problem in the Sahel, and last year an
$8 million US loan was approved to refurbish outdated
engineering equipment. Senegal's expanding relations
with the US stem in part from a desire not to be wholly
dependent on any one country, in this case France.
Senegal supports US-backed settlement initiatives in
Rhodesia and Namibia.
26 May 1978
7
--see:4EL
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334
Unpromising Economic Picture
Senegal's biggest problems are economic. The
drought in the Sahel and depressed markets for Senegal's
major exports, peanuts and phosphates, have slowed the
economic growth rate. Senegal takes an active role in
regional economic groups aimed at developing common
water resources, but such efforts cannot soon reverse
longstanding economic problems and recurring periods of
severe drought.
Succession
There is widespread speculation in Senegal that
Senghor intends to retire before his latest five-term "
expires in 1983. Senghor has spoken of the need to have
a trained team to take over before he steps aside, and
the constitution was revised in 1976 to provide for an
interim successor in the event he cannot complete his
term. Prime Minister and Head of Government Abdou
Diouf, a Muslim with apparently good connections to
Senegal's powerful Muslim brotherhoods, is Senghor's
constitutional successor. Although Diouf has a reputa-
tion as an able administrator, he lacks Senghor's broad
popular support, particularly among the military.
Should Senghor retire in the next year or two, he may
hope to give Diouf, as interim president, enough time
to prepare for the 1983 elections. Senghor is going to
be a hard act to follow, however, and other senior mem-
bers of his vartv may well challenge Diouf in the period
ahead.
26 May 1978
8
"StrfrE-1-
Approved for Release: 2018/12/19 006773334