The Mali Federation was a federation in West Africa that linked the French colonies of Senegal and the Sudanese Republic 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 ; 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.
The Mali Federation gained independence from France, but dissolved into Mali and Senegal two months later.
On June 20, in the year 1960, The Mali Federation gained independence from France, but dissolved into Mali and Senegal two months later. This event is recorded as a Selected Events event in the history of June 20, a notable event in this corner of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on June 20, 1960 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Selected Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- The event is associated with a specific geographical location (see map below).
- Wikipedia source last updated on 30 April 2026.
On This Date in History
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More on June 20
Iranian aircraft shot down an American drone over the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions between the two countrie
On June 20, 2019, Iran's integrated system of Air Defense Forces shot down a United States RQ-4A Global Hawk BAMS-D surveillance drone with a surface-to-air missile over the Strai…
Iranian aircraft shot down an American drone over the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions between the two countrie
Iranian student Neda Agha-Soltan was shot dead in Tehran during the presidential election protests; footage of her death
Neda Agha-Soltan was an Iranian student of philosophy, who was participating in the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests with her music teacher, and was walking back to her…
Iranian student Neda Agha-Soltan was shot dead in Tehran during the presidential election protests; footage of her death
A bomb explosion in the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran, left at least 25 dead and more than 70 injured
The Imam Reza shrine bombing refers to a bomb explosion that occurred on 20 June 1994 in a crowded prayer hall at the shrine of Ali al-Ridha, the eighth Imam of Shia, located in M…
A bomb explosion in the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran, left at least 25 dead and more than 70 injured
The International Conference on the Holocaust and Genocide, the first major conference in genocide studies, opened despi
The International Conference on the Holocaust and Genocide was the first major conference in the field of genocide studies, held in Tel Aviv on 20–24 June 1982. It was organized b…
The International Conference on the Holocaust and Genocide, the first major conference in genocide studies, opened despi
Bill Stewart, an American journalist, was executed by Nicaraguan Guardia forces
William D. Stewart was an American journalist with ABC News who was murdered by Nicaraguan government National Guard ("Guardia") forces while reporting on the Nicaraguan Revolutio…
Bill Stewart, an American journalist, was executed by Nicaraguan Guardia forces
Steven Spielberg's film Jaws was released; it became a summer blockbuster and the first film to earn $100 million in U
Steven Allan Spielberg is an American filmmaker. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the greatest…
Steven Spielberg's film Jaws was released; it became a summer blockbuster and the first film to earn $100 million in U
Comments 0
Sign in to join the discussion.