Mali Federation

Mali Federation Fédération du Mali (French)
1959–1960
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi
Anthem: National Anthem of The Mali Federation
Proposed borders of the Mali Federation in 1959, including Dahomey and Upper Volta
The Mali Federation (1959–1960)
Status	Territory of France (1959–1960)
Capital	Dakar
Common languages	Arabic, French
Government	Federal republic within the French Community (November 1958 – 20 June 1960)
High Commissioner
• 1959–1960	Jean Charles Sicurani
Premier and President (after 20 June 1960)
• 1959–1960	Modibo Keïta
Vice Premier
• 1959–1960	Mamadou Dia
Legislature	Federal assembly
Historical era	Decolonization of Africa
• Elected government	4 April 1959
• Independence	20 June 1960
• Senegal independence	20 August 1960
Currency	CFA franc
Preceded by Succeeded by French Senegal French Sudan Senegal Mali
Today part of	Mali Senegal

Colonies of French West Africa

The Mali Federation (Arabic: اتحاد مالي) was a federation in West Africa that linked the French colonies of Senegal and the Sudanese Republic (also called French Sudan) for two months in 1960. It was founded on 4 April 1959 as a territory with self-rule within the French Community, and became independent after negotiations with France on 20 June 1960. Two months after independence, on 19 August 1960, Sudanese Republic leaders in the federation tried to take control by mobilizing the army, and Senegalese leaders in the federation retaliated by mobilizing the gendarmerie (national police); this resulted in a tense standoff, and Senegal withdrew from the federation the next day. Sudanese Republic officials resisted the dissolution of the federation, cut off diplomatic relations with Senegal, and defiantly changed the name of their country to the Republic of Mali. During the brief existence of the Mali Federation, Modibo Keïta, who later became the first president of Mali, served as federation premier, and the government was based in Dakar, the eventual capital of Senegal.