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
Status	Territory of France (1959–1960)
Capital	Dakar
Common languages	Arabic, French
Government	Federal republic within French Community (until 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[1]
Historical era	Decolonization of Africa
• Elected government	4 April 1959
• Independence	20 June 1960
• Senegal independence	20 August 1960[2]
Currency	CFA franc
Preceded by Succeeded by French Senegal French Sudan Senegal Mali
Today part of	Mali Senegal

The Mali Federation (Arabic: اتحاد مالي) was a federation in West Africa linking the French colonies of Senegal and the Sudanese Republic (or French Sudan) for two months in 1960.^[2] 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 later, on 19 August 1960, the Sudanese Republic leaders in the Mali Federation mobilized the army, and Senegal leaders in the federation retaliated by mobilizing the gendarmerie (national police); this resulted in a tense stand-off, and led to the withdrawal from the federation by Senegal the next day. The Sudanese Republic officials resisted this dissolution, cut off diplomatic relations with Senegal, and defiantly changed the name of their country to Mali. For the brief existence of the Mali Federation, the premier was Modibo Keïta, who would later become the first President of Mali, and its government was based in Dakar, the eventual capital of Senegal.