Senegal Withdraws from Mali Federation and Becomes an Independent Republic

In August 1960, Senegal formally withdrew from the Mali Federation, marking a critical turning point in the country’s path to full independence. The Mali Federation had been established in 1959, uniting Senegal and the Sudanese Republic (modern-day Mali) as part of a broader effort to foster unity among newly independent West African states. However, tensions quickly emerged between Senegalese leaders, including Léopold Sédar Senghor, and their Malian counterparts over issues of power-sharing and governance. On August 20, 1960, these differences came to a head, leading Senegal to secede from the Federation. The break-up was largely peaceful, and Senegal declared itself an independent republic with Senghor as its first president and Mamadou Dia as prime minister. This event established Senegal as a sovereign nation, shaping its political future as one of West Africa’s most stable and democratically inclined states. #SenegalHistory #MaliFederation #SenegalIndependence #LéopoldSédarSenghor #MamadouDia #WestAfricaHistory #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife