Thionck Essyl (also called Tionk Essil) is a small town and urban commune in Ziguinchor,

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 ...

, located 65 km north-west of the region capital.

Etymology

The name of the town means "cook remaining crouched."

History

The origins of the town are connected to the kingdom of Mof-Ewi, when it was populated by defectors from

Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau, officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, is a country in West Africa that covers with an estimated population of 2,026,778. It borders Senegal to Guinea-Bissau–Senegal border, its north and Guinea to Guinea–Guinea-Bissau b ...

. Long considered the largest village in Senegal, the village was urbanized in 1990.

Administration

Thionck Essyl is part of the

arrondissement An arrondissement (, , ) is any of various administrative divisions of France, Belgium, Haiti, and certain other Francophone countries, as well as the Netherlands. Europe France The 101 French departments are divided into 342 ''arrondissem ...

of Tendouck in Bignona, Ziguinchor.

Geography

The nearest towns are Hilol, Mantat, Etouta,

Mlomp Mlomp is a rural community and village in the Ziguinchor Region of Senegal in the Casamance, situated approximately south-west of Ziguinchor. As of 2000, it had a population of 7,628, rising to around 8,500 in 2006. Most inhabitants are of Diola ...

, Tendouck, and Djimande.
View map to locate Thionck Essyl
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Population

The population is primarily Jola. Some sources suggest that more than 10000 people live in Thionck Essyl, however the census of 2002 stated that the town's population was only 8006 living in 1021 households. According to official estimates, the population was supposed to reach 8507 by the end of 2007. According to PEPAM (Water and Sanitation Program for the Millennium), however, there are currently 6954 people and 968 households in Thionck Essyl.

Economy

The borders of the town do not lend themselves to easy growth. The town hospital is not very functional because of the law budget, there remains 2 doctors, of the more than 10 there were. There is a high school in the town.

References

External links

Thionck Essyl on the PEPAM website

Les Amis de Thionck Essyl
Populated places in the Bignona department Communes of Senegal {{Bignona Department Cooperation has been established with medical doctors from Barcelona.