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Senegal
Population: 8.8 million Life expectancy male/female: 48/50 Infant mortality rate: 67‰ Illiteracy: 62%	Religions: Muslim 84%; Catholic 6%; Animists 7% Independence: 20 June 1960 (from France) GDP per capita: US$ 730

This is a country of 8 million inhabitants with a degree of economic dynamism and a relative social and political stability (apart from troubles connected with an independence movement in Casamance). The Church makes up about 5% of the population which is 90% Moslem. The secular clergy are fairly numerous relative to the number of Christians.

The Spiritans, who have been in the country for more than 150 years, have, amongst other engagements, a certain tradition of involvement in the media. In 1993, the new bishop of Ziguinchor asked us to increase our presence in his diocese. The result has been a parish ministry and work with young people at Ziguinchor itself.

A Spiritan fraternity was set up at Dakar following on the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Spiritans in Senegal. As a result, a good number of lay people have come to know the Spiritans better and have acquired a taste for some elements of our Spiritan tradition.

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