The Communes of Senegal are the fourth-level administrative divisions in Senegal (below country, region and department). There are some 121 communes in Senegal which have urban status (communes de ville), apart from 46 communes d'arrondissement in the large towns and 370 rural communities (communautés rurales) in the countryside.
History The communes of Saint-Louis and Gorée were established on 10 August 1872, followed by Rufisque and Dakar, created in 1880 and 1887 respectively. The inhabitants of these Four Communes enjoyed a privileged legal status. These first communes, known as communes de plein exercice (full communes), were modelled directly on the French commune.
Other towns, however, such as Thiès, Kaolack and Ziguinchor, grew increasingly important both demographically — they were more populous than Gorée or Rufisque — and economically. A decree of 1891 opened the possibility of promoting them to the rank of communes mixtes (mixed communes), as distinct from the full communes. The following were created as mixed communes: Thiès, Louga and Tivaouane (1904); Ziguinchor (1907); Mekhe (1911); Fatick, Foundiougne and Kaolack (1917); Diourbel (1918); Kébémer and Khombole (1925); Bambey, Mbour and Gossas (1926). Initially only towns in the coastal region could become mixed communes, but these provisions were extended to all colonies of French West Africa (AOF) in 1929. These communes were administered by an appointed mayor-administrator and a municipal commission — rather than an elected municipal council — whose members were appointed by the Governor until 1939, after which they were elected. A further wave of creations followed in 1952 with Kolda, Mbacké, Guinguinéo, Tambacounda, Matam and Podor.
The law of 18 November 1955 on the reorganisation of municipal government in French West Africa marked a decisive step in the decentralisation process: it reorganised the original four communes, established communes de moyen exercice (intermediate communes) with an appointed mayor-administrator and an elected municipal council, and elevated other localities to the status of full communes.
At independence in 1960, Senegal had 34 communes, all of full status. In 1961, following Gorée's absorption into Dakar, this number fell to 33.
Law No. 66-64 of 30 June 1966 defined the Municipal Administration Code and, in its Article 3, stipulated that a commune is any locality with a population of at least 1,000 inhabitants that has reached a level of development allowing it to balance its own budget from its own resources. Communes are considered legal persons under public law. At that date, the 33 communes were, in alphabetical order: Bakel, Bambey, Bignona, Dagana, Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Foundiougne, Gossas, Guinguinéo, Joal-Fadiouth, Kaolack, Kaffrine, Kébémer, Kédougou, Khombole, Kolda, Linguère, Louga, Matam, Mbacké, Mbour, Meckhé, Nioro du Rip, Oussouye, Podor, Saint-Louis, Sédhiou, Tambacounda, Thiès, Tivaouane, Vélingara and Ziguinchor.
In 1983, Decree No. 83-1128 created three communes in place of the former commune of Dakar: Dakar, Pikine and Rufisque. In 1990, Decree No. 90-1134 of 8 October 1990 separated Guédiawaye and Bargny from Pikine and Rufisque respectively, establishing them as independent communes. Decree No. 90-1135 of 8 October 1990 created nine further communes: Dahra, Koungheul, Ourossogui, Ndioum, Thionck Essyl, Goudomp, Marsassoum, Diofior and Pout.
Law No. 96-752 of 5 September 1996 created 12 additional communes: Kahone, Passy, Gandiaye, Ndoffane Laghème, Thilogne, Waoundé, Kanel, Golléré, Semmé, Nguékhokh, Thiadiaye and Sébikotane.
Decree No. 2002-171 of 21 February 2002 created seven further communes — Diamniadio, Mboro, Kayar, Ranérou, Rosso, Diawara and Ndiandane — bringing the total number of urban communes to 67.
Decree No. 2008-748 of 10 July 2008 significantly increased the number of communes — now 108 — with 41 new creations: Karang Poste, Soum, Nganda, Birkelane, Malem Hodar, Keur Madiabel, Saraya, Salémata, Médina Yoro Foulah, Pata, Dabo, Salikégné, Saré Yoba Diéga, Kounkané, Diaobé-Kabendou, Guéoul, Sinthiou Bamambé-Banadji, Dembancané, Hamady Ounaré, Mpal, Ross Béthio, Gaé, Mboumba, Guédé Chantier, Démette, Galoya Toucouleur, Diannah Malary, Samine, Tanaff, Diattacounda, Bounkiling, Madina Wandifa, Kidira, Goudiry, Kothiary, Koumpentoum, Saly Portudal, Ngaparou, Somone, Popenguine-Ndayane and Diouloulou.
Six months later, on 31 December 2008 — just weeks before the local elections of 22 March 2009 — five further localities were communalised by decree, on account of their economic potential, geographic position and demographic size: one in the Koumpentoum Department, Malem Niani, and four in the Podor Department: Aéré Lao, Pété, Walaldé and Bodé Lao.
From that point, Senegal had 113 so-called communes de ville (urban communes), in addition to 46 communes d'arrondissement for the largest cities.
In 2013 Senegal passed Act III of Decentralization, which abolished rural communities, and transformed all rural, urban and arrodissements communes into simply communes.
Dakar Region Dakar Department Biscuiterie Cambérène Colobane / Fass / Gueule Tapée Dakar-Plateau Dieuppeul-Derklé Fann-Point E-Amitié Gorée Grand Dakar Grand Yoff Hann Bel-Air HLM Médina Mermoz-Sacré-Cœur Ngor Ouakam Parcelles Assainies Patte d'Oie Sicap-Liberté Yoff
Guédiawaye Department Golf Sud Médina Gounass Ndiarème Limamoulaye Sam Notaire Wakhinane Nimzatt
Pikine Department Dalifort Diacksao Diamaguène / Sicap Mbao Djidah Thiaroye Kaw Guinaw Rail Nord Guinaw Rail Sud Mbao Pikine Est Pikine Ouest Pikine Sud Thiaroye-Gare Thiaroye-sur-Mer
Rufisque Department Bambylor Bargny Diamniadio Rufisque Est Rufisque Nord Rufisque Ouest Sangalkam Sébikhotane Sendou Tivaouane Peulh-Niaga Yène
Keur Massar Department Jaxaay-Parcelles Keur Massar Nord Keur Massar Sud Malika Yeumbeul Nord Yeumbeul Sud
Diourbel Region Bambey Department Baba Garage Bambey Dinguiraye Gawane Keur Samba Kane Lambaye Ndangalma Ndondol Ngogom Ngoye Réfane Thiakhar
Diourbel Department Diourbel Gade Escale Keur Ngalgou Dankh Sène Ndindy Ndoulo Ngohé Patar Taïba Moutoupha Tocky-Gare Touba Lappé Touré Mbonde
Mbacké Department Dalla Ngabou Darou Nahim Darou Salam Typ Dendey Gouyegui Kael Madina Mbacké Missirah Ndioumane Nghaye Sadio Taïba Thiékène Taïf Touba Fall Touba Mboul Touba Mosquée
Fatick Region Fatick Department Diakhao Diaoulé Diarrère Diofior Diouroup Djilasse Fatick Fimela Loul Séssène Mbéllacadiao Ndiob Ngayokhème Niakhar Palmarin Patar Tattaguine Thiaré Ndialgui
Foundiougne Department Bassoul Diagane Barka Dionewar Diossong Djilor Djirnda Foundiougne Karang Poste Keur Saloum Diané Keur Samba Guèye Mbam Niassène Nioro Alassane Tall Passy Sokone Soum Toubacouta
Gossas Department Colobane Gossas Mbar Ndiène Lagane Ouadiour Patar Lia
Kaffrine Region Birkelane Department Birkilane Diamal Keur Mboucki Mabo Mbeuleup Ndiognick Ségré Gatta Touba Mbella
Kaffrine Department Boulel Diamagadio Diokoul Mbelbouck Gniby Kaffrine Kahi Kathiotte Médinatoul Salam II Nganda
Koungheul Department Fass Thiékène Ida Mouride Koungheul Lour Escale Maka Yop Missirah Wadène Gainte Pathé Ribot Escale Saly Escale
Malem Hodar Department Darou Minam 2 Dianké Souf Khelcom Malem-Hodar Ndiobène Samba Lamo Ndioum Ngainthe Sagna
Kaolack Region Guinguinéo Department Dara Mboss Fass Gagnick Guinguinéo Khelcom Birane Mbadakhoune Mboss Ndiago Ngathe Naoudé Nguélou Ourour Panal Wolof
Kaolack Department Dya Gandiaye Kahone Kaolack Keur Baka Latmingué Ndiaffate Ndiébel Ndiédieng Ndofane Sibassor Thiaré Thiomby
Nioro du Rip Department Dabaly Darou Salam Gainthe Kaye Kayemor Keur Maba Diakhou Keur Madiabel Keur Madongo Keur Socé Médina Sabakh Ndramé Escale Ngayène Nioro du Rip Paoskoto Porokhane Taïba Niassène Wack Ngouna
Kédougou Region Kédougou Department Bandafassi Dimboli Dindefelo Fongolimbi Kédougou Ninéfécha Tomboroncoto
Salémata Department Dar Salam Ethiolo Oubadji Salémata
Saraya Department Bembou Dakateli Kévoye Khossanto Médina Baffé Missirah Sirimana Sabodala Saraya
Kolda Region Kolda Department Bagadadji Coumbacara Dabo Dialambéré Dioulacolon Guiro Yéro Bocar Kolda Mampatim Médina Chérif Médina El Hadj Salikégné Saré Bidji Saré Yoba Diéga Tankanto Escale Thiétty
Médina Yoro Foulah Department Bignarabé Bourouco Dinguiraye Kéréwane Koulinto Médina Yoro Foulah Ndorna Niaming Pata
Vélingara Department Badion Bonconto Diaobé-Kabendou Fafacourou Kandia Kandiaye Kounkané Linkéring Médina Gounass Némataba Ouassadou Pakour Paroumba Saré Coly Sallé Sinthiang Koundara Vélingara
Louga Region Kébémer Department Bandegne Ouolof Darou Marnane Darou Mousty Diokoul Diawrigne Guéoul Kab Gaye Kanène Ndiob Kébémer Loro Mbacké Cajor Mbadiane Ndande Ndoyene Ngourane Ouolof Sagatta Gueth Sam Yabal Thieppe Thiolom Fall Touba Mérina
Linguère Department Affé Djoloff Barkédji Boulal Dahra Dealy Dodji Gassane Kamb Labgar Linguère Mbeuleukhé Mboula Ouarkhokh Sagatta Djolof Téssékéré Forage Thiamène Djolof Thiarny Thiel Yang-Yang
Louga Department Coki Gande Guet Ardo Kéle Gueye Keur Momar Sarr Léona Louga Mbédiène Ndiagne Nguer Malal Ngueune Sarr Nguidilé Niomré Pété Ouarack Sakal Syer Thiamène Cayor
Matam Region Kanel Department Aouré Bokiladji Dembancané Hamady Ounaré Kanel Ndendory Odobéré Orkadiere Semmé Sinthiou Bamambé-Banadji Waoundé Wouro Sidy
Matam Department Agnams Bokidiawé Dabia Matam Nabadji Civol Nguidjilone Ogo Oréfondé Ourossogui Thilogne
Ranérou Ferlo Department Lougré Thioly Oudalaye Ranérou Vélingara
Saint-Louis Region Dagana Department Bokhol Dagana Diama Gaé Mbane Ndombo Sandjiry Ngnith Richard-Toll Ronkh Ross Béthio Rosso
Podor Department Aéré Lao Bodé Lao Boké Dialloubé Démette Dodel Doumga Lao Fanaye Galoya Toucouleur Gamadji Saré Golléré Guédé Chantier Guédé Village Madina Diathbé Mbolo Birane Mboumba Méry Ndiandane Ndiayène Peindao Ndioum Pété Podor Walaldé
Saint-Louis Department Fass Ngom Gandon Mpal Ndiébène Gandiole Saint-Louis
Sédhiou Region Bounkiling Department Bona Bounkiling Diacounda Diambati Diaroumé Djinany Faoune Inor Kandion Mangana Madina Wandifa Ndiamacouta Ndiamalathiel Tankon
Goudomp Department Baghère Diattacounda Diouboudou Djibanar Goudomp Kaour Karantaba Kolibantang Mangaroungou Santo Niagha Samine Simbandi Balante Simbandi Brassou Tanaff Yarang Balante
Sédhiou Department Bambaly Bémet Bidjini Boghall Diannah Ba Diannah Malary Diendé Djibabouya Djiredji Koussy Marsassoum Oudoucar Sakar Sama Kanta Peulh Sansamba Sédhiou
Tambacounda Region Bakel Department Bakel Ballou Bélé Diawara Gabou Gathiary Kidira Madina Foulbé Moudéry Sadatou Sinthiou Fissa Toumboura
Goudiry Department Bala Bani Israël Boutoucoufara Boynguel Bamba Dianké Makha Dougué Goumbayél Goudiry Koar Komoti Kothiary Koulor Koussan Sinthiou Bocar Ali Sinthiou Mamadou Boubou
Koumpentoum Department Bamba Thialène Kahène Koumpentoum Kouthia Gaydi Kouthiaba Wolof Malem Niani Méréto Ndame Niani Toucouleur Pass Koto Payar Sinthiou Malème
Tambacounda Department Dialacoto Koussanar Makacolibantang Missirah Ndoga Babacar Néttéboulou Tambacounda
Thiès Region M'bour Department Diass Fissel Joal-Fadiouth M'Bour Malicounda Ndiaganiao Ngaparou Nguékhokh Nguéniène Popenguine-Ndayane Saly Sandiara Séssène Sindia Somone Thiadiaye
Thiès Department Diender Fandène Kayar Keur Moussa Khombole Ndiéyène Sirah Ngoudiane Notto Pout