Vélingara department

Vélingara
Department
Location in the Kolda region
Country	Senegal
Region	Kolda region
Capital	Vélingara
Area
• Total	5,434 km^2 (2,098 sq mi)
Population  (2023 census)
• Total	406,504
• Density	75/km^2 (190/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+0 (GMT)

Vélingara department is one of the 46 departments of Senegal, one of the three making up the Kolda region in the Upper Casamance.

Administration

The department has three communes: Vélingara (the capital town), Kounkané and Diaobé-Kabendou.

The rural districts (communautés rurales) comprise:

• Bonconto Arrondissement
  • Bonconto (Bonkonto)
  • Linkéring
  • Médina Gounass
  • Sinthiang Koundara
• Pakour Arrondissement
  • Pakour
  • Paroumba
  • Ouassadou
• Saré Coly Sallé Arrondissement, created in 2008
  • Saré Coly Sallé
  • Kandia
  • Kandiaye
  • Némataba

Population

In the December 2002 census, the population was 189,742. In 2005, it was estimated at 206,547 people.

Historical site

• Village of Payoungou, arrondissement of Pakour

Notable people

• Cherif Mohamed Aly Aidara, founder of the NGO Mozdahir International Institute^[1]

References

1. Diop, Macoumba (2013). L'introduction du chiisme au Sénégal. In Histoire, monde et cultures religieuses 2013/4 (n° 28), pages 63-77.

13°9′00″N 14°7′00″W