XXᵉ siècle
French West Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Federation of Mali was a short-lived political union formed by Sudan and Senegal in 1960 after a broader federation plan failed to retain Dahomey and Upper Volta. Sudan, led by Modibo Keita, supported federal union as the basis for transforming society, while Senegalese president Léopold Senghor withdrew Senegal after only two months. The federation briefly existed as an independent state before dissolving.
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The proposed Federation of Mali initially aimed to unite Sudan, Senegal, Upper Volta, and Dahomey. The project was weakened when Ivory Coast persuaded Upper Volta and Dahomey to withdraw, leaving only Sudan and Senegal to establish a reduced federation. Its formation represented one of the most ambitious West African experiments in political union during the transfer of power.
Within the federation, Sudanese leadership under Modibo Keita regarded federal union as a foundation for a transformed society. This programme was less acceptable to Léopold Senghor of Senegal, whose government withdrew after only two months. The political contrast between the two partners exposed the difficulty of sustaining a federation when national leaderships held different visions of postcolonial state-building.
The Federation of Mali therefore survived only briefly as an independent state in 1960. Its collapse formed part of the wider pattern of frustrated West African unity projects, in which the aspirations of regional federation repeatedly encountered the sovereignty of individual states and divergent political interests.
XXᵉ siècle
French West Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Federation of Mali was a short-lived political union formed by Sudan and Senegal in 1960 after a broader federation plan failed to retain Dahomey and Upper Volta. Sudan, led by Modibo Keita, supported federal union as the basis for transforming society, while Senegalese president Léopold Senghor withdrew Senegal after only two months. The federation briefly existed as an independent state before dissolving.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The proposed Federation of Mali initially aimed to unite Sudan, Senegal, Upper Volta, and Dahomey. The project was weakened when Ivory Coast persuaded Upper Volta and Dahomey to withdraw, leaving only Sudan and Senegal to establish a reduced federation. Its formation represented one of the most ambitious West African experiments in political union during the transfer of power.
Within the federation, Sudanese leadership under Modibo Keita regarded federal union as a foundation for a transformed society. This programme was less acceptable to Léopold Senghor of Senegal, whose government withdrew after only two months. The political contrast between the two partners exposed the difficulty of sustaining a federation when national leaderships held different visions of postcolonial state-building.
The Federation of Mali therefore survived only briefly as an independent state in 1960. Its collapse formed part of the wider pattern of frustrated West African unity projects, in which the aspirations of regional federation repeatedly encountered the sovereignty of individual states and divergent political interests.