Mbacké department is an administrative division of Senegal located within the Diourbel Region. It functions as a second‑level territorial unit, subordinate to the regional authority and above arrondissements and communes.
Administrative centre
The departmental capital is the town of Mbacké.
Geography and settlements
The department encompasses a mixture of urban and rural areas. Its most notable urban centre is the city of Touba, which, while administratively part of Mbacké department, is a separate urban commune and serves as the spiritual headquarters of the Mouride brotherhood. Other significant settlements include the towns of Mbacké, Kébémer, and various smaller villages.
Sub‑administrative structure
Mbacké department is divided into several arrondissements, each of which is further subdivided into rural communities (communautés rurales). The primary arrondissements include:
- Mbacké Arrondissement – containing the communes of Mbacké and Touba.
- Ndiaremé Arrondissement – comprising a collection of rural communities.
(Additional arrondissements may exist; the exact current list is defined by Senegalese administrative decrees.)
Demographics
Population data are collected during national censuses; the latest publicly released figures (2013) indicate that the department has several hundred thousand inhabitants, with a high proportion of Sunni Muslims, particularly adherents of the Mouride Sufi order. Precise, up‑to‑date numbers are not provided here.
Economy and culture
The economy of Mbacké department combines agricultural activities—such as millet, sorghum, and groundnut cultivation—with commerce and services concentrated in its urban centres. Touba hosts large religious gatherings that attract pilgrims from across Senegal and the diaspora, contributing significantly to the local economy.
Transport
Road networks link Mbacké and Touba to the regional capital Diourbel and to the national capital Dakar. Public transport and private vehicles are the main modes of travel within the department.
References
- Government of Senegal, Ministry of Territorial Administration and Local Collectivities.
- National Agency of Statistics and Demography, Census reports (2013).
Note: While the above information reflects established administrative facts about Mbacké department, specific statistical details (e.g., exact population figures) may vary between sources and over time.