What is the capital of Senegal?

The capital of Senegal is Dakar. Located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula at the westernmost point of mainland Africa, Dakar is also Senegal’s largest city and its principal political, economic, cultural, and transport center.

The city grew from a coastal settlement and became increasingly important under French rule because of its harbor and position on Atlantic shipping routes. Dakar replaced Saint-Louis as the capital of French West Africa in 1902. When Senegal became independent in 1960, Dakar continued as the capital of the new republic.

Dakar’s location gives it a strong connection to the Atlantic Ocean rather than to the inland Sahel. The nearby island of Gorée is a major historical landmark, while the city itself is known for institutions, markets, music, and West African cultural life. The wrong options are capitals of neighboring or nearby countries: Conakry is Guinea’s capital, Bamako is Mali’s, and Ouagadougou is Burkina Faso’s.