Dakar Department
Encyclopedia
Dakar Department is one of the departments of Senegal
, located in the Dakar Region
.
The département of Dakar is one of the four départements of the Dakar région
, which is one of the 11 régions of Senegal
. The Dakar région encompasses the city of Dakar and all its suburbs along the Cape Verde Peninsula. Its territory is thus roughly the same as the territory of the metropolitan area of Dakar. Since the administrative reforms of 1996, the régions of Senegal, which until then were merely local administrative structures of the central state, have been turned into full-fledged political units, with democratically elected regional councils, and regional presidents. They were given extensive powers, and manage economic development, transportation, or environmental protection issues at the regional level, thus coordinating the actions of the communes below them.
The département of Dakar is divided into four arrondissement
s: Almadies, Grand Dakar
, Parcelles Assainies
(which literally means "drained lots"; this is the most populous arrondissement of Dakar), and Plateau/Gorée
(downtown Dakar). These arrondissements are quite different from the arrondissements of Paris
, being merely local administrative structures of the central state, like the Senegalese départements, and are thus more comparable to French departmental arrondissements.
In 1996, a massive reform of the administrative and political divisions of Senegal was voted by the Parliament of Senegal. The commune of Dakar, whose population approached 1 million inhabitants, was deemed too large and too populated to be properly managed by a central municipality, and so on August 30, 1996 Dakar was divided into 19 communes d'arrondissement.
These communes d'arrondissement were given extensive powers, and are very much like regular communes. They have more powers than the arrondissements of Paris, and are more akin to the London borough
s. The commune of Dakar was maintained above these 19 communes d'arrondissement, and it coordinates the activities of the communes d'arrondissement, much as Greater London
coordinates the activities of the London boroughs.
The 19 communes d'arrondissement belong to either of the four arrondissements of Dakar, and the sous-préfet
of each arrondissement is in charge of controlling the activities of the communes d'arrondissement in his arrondissement.
Dakar Department includes the commune d'arrondissement of Dakar-Plateau
(34,626 inhabitants), in the arrondissement of Plateau/Gorée, is the historical heart of the city, and most ministries and public administrations are located there. The densest and most populous commune d'arrondissement is Médina
(136,697 inhabitants), in the arrondissement of Plateau/Gorée. The smallest one is the commune d'arrondissement of Île de Gorée
(1,034 inhabitants), in the arrondissement of
Plateau/Gorée.
Departments of Senegal
The 14 Regions of Senegal are subdivided into 45 departments and 103 arrondissements and by collectivités locales which elect administrative officers.In 2006, the new department of Koungheul was created as a division of Kaolack Department...
, located in the Dakar Region
Dakar Region
Dakar région is the smallest and most populated région of Senegal, encompassing the capital city of the country, Dakar, and all its suburbs along the Cap–Vert Peninsula, Africa's most westerly point.-Administration:...
.
The département of Dakar is one of the four départements of the Dakar région
Dakar Region
Dakar région is the smallest and most populated région of Senegal, encompassing the capital city of the country, Dakar, and all its suburbs along the Cap–Vert Peninsula, Africa's most westerly point.-Administration:...
, which is one of the 11 régions of Senegal
Regions of Senegal
||Senegal is subdivided into 14 regions , each of which is administered by a Conseil Régional elected by population weight at the Arrondissement level....
. The Dakar région encompasses the city of Dakar and all its suburbs along the Cape Verde Peninsula. Its territory is thus roughly the same as the territory of the metropolitan area of Dakar. Since the administrative reforms of 1996, the régions of Senegal, which until then were merely local administrative structures of the central state, have been turned into full-fledged political units, with democratically elected regional councils, and regional presidents. They were given extensive powers, and manage economic development, transportation, or environmental protection issues at the regional level, thus coordinating the actions of the communes below them.
The département of Dakar is divided into four arrondissement
Arrondissements of Senegal
The departments of Senegal are subdivided into arrondissements. As of 2007 there were 92. The arrondissements are listed below, by department:-Bakel:*Bala Arrondissement*Diawara Arrondissement*Goudiry Arrondissement*Kidira Arrondissement-Bambey:...
s: Almadies, Grand Dakar
Grand Dakar
Grand Dakar is a commune d'arrondissement of the city of Dakar, Senegal....
, Parcelles Assainies
Parcelles Assainies
Parcelles Assainies is a commune d'arrondissement of the city of Dakar, Senegal. As of 2007 it had a population of 143,967....
(which literally means "drained lots"; this is the most populous arrondissement of Dakar), and Plateau/Gorée
Plateau/Gorée
Plateau/Gorée is a Communes d'arrondissement, comprising the city center and oldest colonial section of the Commune of Dakar, Senegal. At the 2002 census, Plateau/Gorée, mostly occupied by business and government, had a population of 34,626....
(downtown Dakar). These arrondissements are quite different from the arrondissements of Paris
Arrondissements of Paris
The city of Paris is divided into twenty arrondissements municipaux administrative districts, more simply referred to as arrondissements . These are not to be confused with departmental arrondissements, which subdivide the 101 French départements...
, being merely local administrative structures of the central state, like the Senegalese départements, and are thus more comparable to French departmental arrondissements.
These communes d'arrondissement were given extensive powers, and are very much like regular communes. They have more powers than the arrondissements of Paris, and are more akin to the London borough
London borough
The administrative area of Greater London contains thirty-two London boroughs. Inner London comprises twelve of these boroughs plus the City of London. Outer London comprises the twenty remaining boroughs of Greater London.-Functions:...
s. The commune of Dakar was maintained above these 19 communes d'arrondissement, and it coordinates the activities of the communes d'arrondissement, much as Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
coordinates the activities of the London boroughs.
The 19 communes d'arrondissement belong to either of the four arrondissements of Dakar, and the sous-préfet
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of each arrondissement is in charge of controlling the activities of the communes d'arrondissement in his arrondissement.
Dakar Department includes the commune d'arrondissement of Dakar-Plateau
Dakar-Plateau
Dakar-Plateau is an arrondissement in the Dakar Department, and forms the central district of the city of Dakar.Senegalese arrondissements are quite different from the arrondissements of Paris, being merely local administrative structures of the central state, like the Senegalese départements, and...
(34,626 inhabitants), in the arrondissement of Plateau/Gorée, is the historical heart of the city, and most ministries and public administrations are located there. The densest and most populous commune d'arrondissement is Médina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
(136,697 inhabitants), in the arrondissement of Plateau/Gorée. The smallest one is the commune d'arrondissement of Île de Gorée
Gorée
Île de Gorée Île de Gorée Île de Gorée (i.e. "Gorée Island"; is one of the 19 communes d'arrondissement (i.e. "commune of arrondissement") of the city of Dakar, Senegal. It is a island located at sea from the main harbor of Dakar ....
(1,034 inhabitants), in the arrondissement of
Plateau/Gorée.