Salémata is a small town with commune status in south-east

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

. It is the chief settlement of the Salémata Department in the

Kédougou Region Kédougou (Wolof language, Wolof: Keédugu) is a town in the Kédougou Region of south-eastern Senegal near the border with Mali and Guinea. It lies at an elevation of above sea level. Founded by the Malinké , Malinké people, Kédougou means ...

. It lies close to the

Niokolo-Koba National Park The Niokolo-Koba National Park (, PNNK) is a World Heritage Site and natural protected area in southeastern Senegal, near the Guinea border. It is served by Niokolo-Koba Airport, an unpaved airstrip. National park Established as a reserve in 1 ...

and the Dindefelo Falls, close to the border with

Guinea Conakry Guinea, officially the Republic of Guinea, is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Guinea-Bissau to the northwest, Senegal to the north, Mali to the northeast, Côte d'Ivoire to the southeast, and Sier ...

. The region is filled with very mixed communities being made up of several ethnic groups such as

Bassaris A bassaris (βασσαρίς) is a fox skin worn as clothing in ancient times. The Greek god Dionysus was associated with the bassaris, and his followers (the Maenads) were said to wear it. As a result, they were known as the "Bassarids." Dionysus ...

, Peulhs, Bediks... Most of the population activities consist of agriculture, trade and animal breeding

Administration

The village became a department in 2008 . Before that it was a rural community. From 2008 to 2012, Kalidou Ba was elected Deputy Mayor. He is a respected teacher and a notable in the area. Then from 2012 on, Elhadj Mamadou Sall became President of the departmental council and deputy, reelected in both positions five years later. But it wa
replaced in 2017
by Moussa Souaré due to the application of the law n° 96–11. In 2015, Kamissa Camara was elected Mayor. In 2019 its population was recorded at 22,111.

References

2
Salemata petite commune du Sud Est du Sénégal
Published on 28 December 2020 Populated places in Kédougou region Communes of Senegal {{Senegal-geo-stub