Today in history On August 19, 1960 – Senegal breaks from the Mali Federation, declaring its independence.

In 1960, Senegal made a decisive break from the Mali Federation, a short-lived union formed earlier that year between Senegal and French Sudan (modern-day Mali). The federation was established as part of the wave of decolonization sweeping across Africa, with the idea that unity would provide greater political strength, economic stability, and influence in the post-colonial world. However, tensions quickly arose between the two states, particularly over questions of political power, administrative control, and economic management. Leaders in Senegal, notably Léopold Sédar Senghor and Prime Minister Mamadou Dia, found themselves at odds with the leadership in Bamako, where Modibo Keïta of French Sudan sought a more centralized form of governance. These ideological differences made it difficult for the federation to function smoothly.

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On August 20, 1960, Senegal withdrew from the Mali Federation, declaring itself an independent republic under Senghor’s presidency. This move marked a turning point in West African politics, signaling the challenges of sustaining multi-state federations in a period where newly independent nations were more focused on asserting sovereignty than ceding authority to a larger body. While the Mali Federation collapsed almost immediately after Senegal’s withdrawal, both Senegal and Mali pursued separate paths as independent states. Senegal went on to establish itself as one of the most politically stable countries in Africa, while Mali embraced socialism under Modibo Keïta. The split highlighted the tension between pan-African unity and national independence, a theme that would continue to shape African politics in the decades to follow.

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