# Ziguinchor

> city and regional capital in Senegal

**Wikidata**: [Q202776](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q202776)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziguinchor)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ziguinchor

## Summary
Ziguinchor is a major city and the regional capital located in the Casamance region of Senegal, situated along the Casamance River. It serves as the administrative center for both the Ziguinchor Region and the Ziguinchor Department, functioning as a significant urban hub with a population exceeding 200,000 as of 2013. Historically, the city transitioned from Portuguese control to French administration in 1888 and remains a key cultural and economic node in West Africa.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** City, commune of Senegal, and big city.
*   **Location:** Situated in the Casamance region, next to the Casamance River, with coordinates at latitude 12.58611111111111 and longitude -16.27075.
*   **Administrative Role:** Capital of the Ziguinchor Region and the Ziguinchor Department.
*   **Area:** 9 square kilometres.
*   **Elevation:** 12 metres above sea level.
*   **Timezone:** Greenwich Mean Time.
*   **UN/LOCODE:** SNZIG.
*   **Population History:**
    *   69,646 (1976 census)
    *   124,283 (1988 census)
    *   153,269 (2002 census)
    *   205,294 (2013 census)
*   **Head of Government:** Abdoulaye Baldé.
*   **Historical Sovereignty:** Part of the Portuguese Empire from 1645 until 1888; currently part of Senegal.
*   **Sister Cities:** Prince George's County (USA), Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (France), Rimini (Italy), and Compiègne (France, since 2019).
*   **Identifiers:**
    *   Wikidata: Q136204045 (implied via context)
    *   GeoNames: 2243940
    *   GND: 4119242-4
    *   VIAF: 125616788
    *   FAST: 1334852
    *   Library of Congress: n81086488
    *   WorldCat (IDREF): 223705977 / 027418537
    *   WOEID: 1418847
    *   Freebase: /m/022dc_
    *   OpenStreetMap Node: 2281987760
    *   GNS Unique Feature ID: -2275921
    *   BBC Things ID: 8cffc6ad-d10e-46ca-a543-5706504bef98
    *   Yale Lux ID: place/15c06096-c85f-48ed-ba4c-381c4457735b
    *   Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana: ziguinchor / 0264964 (former scheme)
    *   Encyclopædia Britannica Online: place/Ziguinchor
    *   Getty TGN: 1092557
    *   National Library of Israel J9U: 987007567542105171 / 987007550524305171
    *   Encyclopedia of China (2nd Ed): 210582
    *   Encyclopedia of China (3rd Ed): 451327
    *   Great Russian Encyclopedia Online (2017): 2878527
    *   Museum Digital Place: 34221
    *   Online PWN Encyclopedia: 4001523
    *   Le Figaro Tag: Ziguinchor
    *   Facebook Location ID: 108201675868671
    *   Who's on First: 421201979
    *   Enciclopedia Galega Universal: 200495
*   **Aliases:** زيغينشور (Arabic), زيجوينكور (Arabic).
*   **Wikipedia Languages:** Available in 47 languages including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.
*   **Media:**
    *   Image: Ziguinchor 294A4530 Casamance.jpg
    *   Page Banner: Ziguinchor_banner.jpg
    *   Commons Category: Ziguinchor
    *   Topic Category: Category:Ziguinchor
    *   Birth Category: Category:Births in Ziguinchor
    *   Death Category: Category:Deaths in Ziguinchor
    *   People Category: Category:People from Ziguinchor

## FAQs
**What is the historical timeline of Ziguinchor's sovereignty?**
The city was under the control of the Portuguese Empire starting in 1645. This period ended in 1888 when the territory was transferred, eventually becoming part of the modern nation of Senegal.

**How has the population of Ziguinchor changed over recent decades?**
Census data shows a consistent upward trend, growing from 69,646 residents in 1976 to 205,294 by 2013. The city more than doubled its population between the 1976 and 2013 censuses.

**Which international cities are twinned with Ziguinchor?**
Ziguinchor maintains sister city relationships with Prince George's County in the United States, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés in France, and Rimini in Italy. It also established a partnership with Compiègne, France, in 2019.

**What are the specific geographic coordinates and elevation of the city?**
The city is located at latitude 12.58611111111111 and longitude -16.27075. It sits at an elevation of 12 metres above sea level along the Casamance River.

**Who currently leads the government of Ziguinchor?**
The head of government for the city is Abdoulaye Baldé.

## Why It Matters
Ziguinchor serves as the critical administrative and economic anchor for the Casamance region, acting as the capital for both the region and its department. Its strategic location on the Casamance River has historically facilitated trade and cultural exchange, evolving from a Portuguese outpost to a major Senegalese urban center. The city's rapid population growth, more than tripling since 1976, underscores its role as a primary destination for migration and development in southern Senegal. As a hub with extensive international partnerships and a vast multilingual digital presence, Ziguinchor represents a vital node in West African connectivity and regional stability.

## Notable For
*   **Regional Administration:** It is the designated capital of the Ziguinchor Region and Ziguinchor Department.
*   **Historical Transition:** A rare example of a city with documented sovereignty shifting from the Portuguese Empire (1645–1888) to modern Senegal.
*   **Demographic Growth:** Demonstrates significant urban expansion, rising from under 70,000 people in 1976 to over 200,000 in 2013.
*   **International Connectivity:** Maintains active twinning agreements with entities in the USA, France, and Italy.
*   **Digital Reach:** Features Wikipedia articles in 47 distinct languages, indicating high global interest and accessibility.
*   **Geographic Specificity:** Uniquely identified by the UN/LOCODE SNZIG and situated precisely 12 metres above sea level.
*   **Cultural Archiving:** Hosts dedicated categories for births, deaths, and people associated with the city, preserving local heritage.

## Body

### Geographic and Administrative Profile
Ziguinchor is a large human settlement classified as a city, a commune of Senegal, and a big city. It is located in the Casamance region, specifically situated on or next to the Casamance River. The city covers an area of 9 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 12 metres above sea level. Its precise geographic coordinates are latitude 12.58611111111111 and longitude -16.27075. Administratively, it functions as the capital of the Ziguinchor Region and the Ziguinchor Department. The city operates within the Greenwich Mean Time timezone and is assigned the UN/LOCODE SNZIG.

### Historical Context and Sovereignty
The history of Ziguinchor includes a distinct period under the Portuguese Empire, which began in 1645 and concluded in 1888. Following this era, the city became part of Senegal. This historical trajectory is documented in various encyclopedic sources, including the Great Russian Encyclopedia Online (2017) which lists the entity under the name "ЗИГИНШОР". The transition of power and the city's integration into the modern Senegalese state are key aspects of its historical identity.

### Demographics and Population Trends
Population data for Ziguinchor, derived from census determinations, reveals a steady increase over several decades. In 1976, the population was recorded at 69,646. By 1988, this figure had risen to 124,283. The 2002 census counted 153,269 residents, and by 2013, the population reached 205,294. These figures highlight the city's status as a growing urban center. The current head of government is Abdoulaye Baldé.

### International Relations and Partnerships
Ziguinchor has established formal twinning relationships with several international administrative bodies. These include Prince George's County, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, and Rimini. A specific partnership with Compiègne was initiated in 2019. These connections facilitate cultural and administrative exchanges between Ziguinchor and its partners in the United States, France, and Italy.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
The city is extensively documented across global knowledge bases and digital platforms. It holds unique identifiers in numerous systems:
*   **Library and Authority:** Library of Congress (n81086488), VIAF (125616788), FAST (1334852), GND (4119242-4), IDREF (223705977 and 027418537), and the National Library of Israel (987007567542105171).
*   **Geographic Databases:** GeoNames (2243940), GNS Unique Feature ID (-2275921), OpenStreetMap Node (2281987760), WOEID (1418847), and Getty TGN (1092557).
*   **Encyclopedias:** Encyclopædia Britannica, Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, Encyclopedia of China (2nd and 3rd editions), Great Russian Encyclopedia, and Online PWN Encyclopedia.
*   **Social and Media:** Facebook Location ID (108201675868671), BBC Things ID, and a dedicated Commons category.
*   **Wikipedia:** The entity has a sitelink count of 47, with articles available in languages ranging from Arabic and Chinese to English, French, Japanese, and Russian.

### Cultural and Media Assets
Visual and categorical data for Ziguinchor is well-preserved. A primary image file, "Ziguinchor 294A4530 Casamance.jpg," and a page banner, "Ziguinchor_banner.jpg," are hosted on Wikimedia Commons. The city is categorized under "Category:Ziguinchor" for general topics, "Category:Births in Ziguinchor" for individuals born there, "Category:Deaths in Ziguinchor" for those who died there, and "Category:People from Ziguinchor" for associated individuals. The city is also tagged in Le Figaro and listed in the Museum Digital Place database.

### Additional Technical and Reference Data
Various other identifiers and references support the entity's profile. The Yale Lux ID is place/15c06096-c85f-48ed-ba4c-381c4457735b. The SNARC ID is listed as Offenbach am Main, and the Freebase ID is /m/022dc_. The city is referenced in the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana under both current and former schemes. The Who's on First ID is 421201979. These diverse data points ensure Ziguinchor is accurately represented across different technical and academic ecosystems.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.agglo-compiegne.fr/ziguinchor)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Source](https://www.citypopulation.de/de/senegal/cities/)
5. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
6. GeoNames
7. BBC Things
8. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/sn.htm)
9. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File