When did the Mali Federation exist?

The Mali Federation existed 1960–2024. On this map it is drawn 1960–2024.

How large was the Mali Federation?

At its greatest extent drawn on this map, the Mali Federation covered about 1.5 million km². That is the largest area the border data gives it across the years it is drawn, not necessarily its greatest extent in history.

Africa · Independence and the modern states

Mali Federation

Federation · 1960–2024

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Type: Federation
Existed: 1960–2024
Shown on the map: 1960–2024
Peak area: 1.5M km²
Region: Africa

Overview

The Mali Federation was a short-lived political union in West Africa linking Senegal with the Sudanese Republic (present-day Mali). Founded on 4 April 1959 as a self-governing territory within the French Community, it took its name from the medieval Mali Empire and chose Dakar as its capital. Modibo Keïta of the Sudanese Republic served as premier, with Senegal's Mamadou Dia as vice-premier; Léopold Sédar Senghor was a central political figure. Hopes of expanding the federation were dashed when Upper Volta and Dahomey were deterred from joining under pressure from France and Ivory Coast.

History

The federation became fully independent on 20 June 1960 after negotiations with France. Within weeks, however, deep disagreements emerged between the socialist-leaning Keïta and the more liberal, pro-French Senghor and Dia. In August 1960 the crisis turned acute: Keïta mobilized the army while Senghor and Dia mobilized the gendarmerie. On 20 August 1960 Senegal seceded, and the Sudanese Republic renamed itself the Republic of Mali, cutting its ties to the French Community. Both successor states entered the United Nations in September 1960.

Later history and present status

The federation's collapse made it Africa's first failed experiment in post-colonial political unification. Its breakup also stranded landlocked Mali from the port of Dakar until the Dakar–Niger Railway linking the two countries was reopened on 22 June 1963. Though it lasted barely seventeen months, the federation shaped both successor states: Senegal under Senghor pursued a moderate, francophile path, while Mali under Keïta embraced socialism and closer ties to the Soviet bloc.

Common questions

What was the Mali Federation?: The Mali Federation was a short-lived political union in West Africa linking Senegal with the Sudanese Republic (present-day Mali). Founded on 4 April 1959 as a self-governing territory within the French Community, it took its name from the medieval Mali Empire and chose Dakar as its capital.
When did the Mali Federation exist?: The Mali Federation existed 1960–2024. On this map it is drawn 1960–2024.
How large was the Mali Federation?: At its greatest extent drawn on this map, the Mali Federation covered about 1.5 million km². That is the largest area the border data gives it across the years it is drawn, not necessarily its greatest extent in history.
Who ruled the Mali Federation?: The federation became fully independent on 20 June 1960 after negotiations with France. Within weeks, however, deep disagreements emerged between the socialist-leaning Keïta and the more liberal, pro-French Senghor and Dia.
What is the present status of the Mali Federation?: The federation's collapse made it Africa's first failed experiment in post-colonial political unification. Its breakup also stranded landlocked Mali from the port of Dakar until the Dakar–Niger Railway linking the two countries was reopened on 22 June 1963.

Sources

Every source below was consulted while writing this entry.

Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali_Federation

This entry was written from the sources above and last updated 10 September 2026.

This entry was researched and drafted with AI from the sources above, and has not been reviewed by a historian. How entries are made

Text available under CC BY-SA 4.0: reuse it with a credit to The World Through Time and a link to this page. Passages drawing on the Wikipedia articles listed above are also licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 by their contributors.

Border geometry for the map itself comes from Cliopatria v0.12 (Seshat Global History Databank, CC-BY-4.0).

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