Senegal, a country on Western-most edge of the African continent with a predominantly Muslim nation of 12 million, has a fully functioning democracy, and has largely escaped incidents of separatist violence that have hampered the progress of several of its neighbours. But Senegal is not without its problems. Its economy has recently faltered, due in part to the relative scarcity of natural resources, and there are suggestions that its cherished tradition of democracy is under threat, with the president allegedly grooming his son to succeed him.