The neighbouring countries Mali and Senegal are located in the northwest portion of West Africa. Senegal is on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean with the port city of Dakar being Africa's most westerly point. In the east Senegal is bounded by the extensive country of Mali, the capital of which is Bamako. These countries have in common the fact that they both were part of the French colonial empire. There has always been active mutual trade between the peoples of Mali and Senegal. This becomes evident as soon as one visits the markets in the two countries. Each country has its own specialties, but the overwhelming majority of products on offer are the same. The railway running between Dakar and Bamako ensures that this two-way trade continues. The port of Dakar makes the city important for the export and import of trade goods. Goods spread out from here to the shops and markets of the whole region. The railway transports goods to Bamako, while freight trucks, bush taxis, and boats along the River Niger carry them further out to the villages. The raw materials of the two countries move in the opposite direction, into the markets of the large cities, and even so far as Europe and the USA.
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