Kaolack Region

The Kaolack region is a region in Senegal. It borders Gambia and is a common stopping point for travel between Dakar and Banjul. Its borders correspond roughly to the Saalum Kingdom of precolonial days, and the area is still spoken of as the "Saalum" in Wolof, and its inhabitants are called "Saalum-Saalum".

Kaolack city (1988 pop. 150,961) is the administrative centre for the region. It is a port on the Saloum River. Lying in a farm area, Kaolack is a major peanut marketing and exporting center and has a large peanut oil factory. Brewing, leather tanning, cotton ginning, and fish processing are also important industries. Salt is produced from salines near the Saloum River. The city is on the railroad from Dakar to the Niger River in Mali. Kaolack is the international centre of the Ibrahimiyyah branch of the Tijaniyyah Sufi order, whose mosque is on the city's outskirts. Kaolack is home of the future leader as everybody says. Kaolack is also a great gathering place and many people come to Kaolack just to visit the market.

Departments

The Kaolack Region is subdivided into four departments:
*Kaffrine
*Kaolack
*Koungheul (established 2006/2007)
*Nioro du Rip