Mbacké

Mbacké is a town located in the Kaolack Region of Senegal. It serves as the administrative capital of the Mbacké Department and lies approximately 60 kilometres southeast of the regional capital, Kaolack. The town sits at the junction of the N4 highway, which connects Dakar to Tambacounda, and a branch of the national railway that links Dakar to Niaye, providing important regional transport links.

Historically, Mbacké has been a modest trading post that grew in importance during the colonial era as a supply centre for agricultural produce from surrounding villages. The population, recorded at about 45 000 in the 2012 census, has increased steadily to an estimated 55 000 in 2020, reflecting both natural growth and migration from rural hinterlands.

The local economy is primarily based on agriculture. Rice, groundnuts, and millet are the main crops cultivated by inhabitants of the Mbacké Department. Small‑scale processing facilities, such as rice mills and peanut oil extraction plants, supplement agricultural activities. The town also hosts weekly markets where farmers sell produce and artisans sell woven textiles and pottery, sustaining a vibrant local trade ecosystem.

Culturally, Mbacké is known for its mosque, the Grand Mosque of Mbacké, an important religious landmark for the local Muslim community. While the Mouride Brotherhood’s headquarters are in Touba, Mbacké occasionally hosts pilgrimage activities and religious festivals that attract visitors from neighboring districts. The town maintains primary and secondary schools, a health centre, and a municipal library, underscoring its role as an educational and civic hub for the region.