Dakar is the capital of Senegal and lies on the Cape Verde Peninsula.
The peninsula, also called Cap-Vert, projects into the Atlantic Ocean and forms the westernmost point of mainland Africa. Dakar occupies much of its southern area, giving Senegal’s capital an important position on Atlantic shipping routes.
The region became significant through Portuguese activity on nearby Gorée Island and later French colonial expansion. Dakar grew into a major port and replaced Saint-Louis as the capital of French West Africa in 1902. When Senegal became independent in 1960, Dakar remained the national capital.
A common mix-up is confusing Dakar with Banjul, Bissau, or Conakry. Those are capitals of nearby countries—The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea respectively—but none is Senegal’s capital or sits on the Cape Verde Peninsula.