From the Federation project to the State of Senegal, the stages of independence

Text by: Laurent Correau Follow

April 4, 1960, the date of signing of the devolution agreements to the Mali Federation, was chosen as the date to commemorate the independence of Senegal. It is in fact one step among others in a process that accelerated from 1959 to 1960.

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During the referendum on the constitution of the Fifth French Republic, on September 28, 1958, the countries of French-speaking Africa voted to maintain their country in the "Community" proposed by Paris. Only Guinea voted against. But within this Community, the positions of the Senegalese Léopold Sédar Senghor and the Ivorian Félix Houphouët-Boigny are opposed. One wants to work for African unity by first passing through federations on the type of the AOF (French West Africa) and the AEF (French Equatorial Africa). The other defends direct links between France and African countries.

In November 1958, the president of the Grand Council of the AOF, Gabriel d'Arboussier, presented a detailed study on the question of a "primary federation". He detailed the main lines during a press conference. The establishment of federal bodies, he explains, is the only solution that will allow Africa to overcome its internal divisions while respecting the personality of each territory. It will also allow, he is convinced, to accelerate the march of economic and social progress.

December 1958, the founding meeting of Bamako

The federalists meet on December 29 and 30 in Bamako, in plenary then in committees. Félix Houphouët-Boigny, in complete disagreement with their options, has declared on several occasions that he will not be present. In the proclamation made by the delegates at the end of the work, Sudan (present-day Mali), Dahomey (present-day Benin), Senegal and Upper Volta (present-day Burkina Faso) express " the will to form between the States of 'West African Community members, a primary federation '. The meeting of a Federal Constituent Assembly is planned. The latter met in Dakar from 14 to 17 January 1959 and established the basic law of the "Federation of Mali", named after an old West African empire.

Upper Volta and Dahomey are however disassociating themselves from the project. In Ouagadougou, the president of the government council, Maurice Yaméogo, lets himself be convinced to abandon the federalist approach and at the end of February 1959, he submits to the deputies a draft constitution in which " Upper Volta individually adheres to the Community ". He explains: the Mali Federation risks constituting a screen between Upper Volta and the Community ... The Voltaic economy is too intertwined with the Ivorian economy to look towards Dakar rather than Abidjan. Same change of mind with Sourou Migan Apithy, who heads the provisional government of the Republic in Dahomey. Present at the founding meeting of Bamako, he refuses to participate in the Constituent Assembly of Dakar - he has meanwhile passed through Paris. He soon no longer hides "his deep conviction that the Federal Constitution was likely to harm the free development of the economy of Dahomey ". He is close to the Dahomean anti-federalists, who won the legislative elections on April 2.

Senegal and Sudan therefore remain alone on board the federal project. In September 1959, Mamadou Dia and Modibo Keïta informed the other countries of the Community of their decision to assert the right to independence of the Federation of Mali. In December, in Saint-Louis, De Gaulle publicly expressed his agreement with the approach undertaken. He sends his greetings to "Those of Mali" and declares that this development " has occurred and continues to occur, not only with the agreement, but with the help of France ".

The Mali Federation put to the test

Negotiations began on January 18, 1960. They ended on April 4 (the date chosen, therefore to mark Senegalese independence). Franco-Malian skills transfer agreements are initialed for some, signed for others under the gold of the Matignon hotel in Paris. Modibo Keïta spoke for the Federation of Mali: " To an independence torn out in the blood, " he said, " we preferred the independence acquired in friendship with France. "

The agreements were ratified in June by the two states, which also voted for the transfer to Mali of shared powers. On June 20, the independence of the Federation of Mali was solemnly proclaimed in Dakar.

► Benchmarks: Chronology: History of the Federation of Mali and its breakdown

"Five columns on the front page". January 1, 1960. Duration: 18 min. (INA)

Tensions were soon to arise around the appointment of the leaders of the Federation. Who of the Senegalese or Sudanese should provide the President of Mali? Who should provide their Chief of Staff? A conference is scheduled for August 20 to resolve the issue of the distribution of functions. In the days preceding this meeting, the Sudanese and Senegalese engaged in a showdown over the control of the gendarmerie, during which orders and counter-orders were issued.

Each is convinced that the other wants to go to the showdown and prepares accordingly. Friday, August 19, in the evening, Modibo Keïta summons a Council of Ministers which discharges Mamadou Dia from Defense and proclaims a state of emergency throughout Mali. But the Senegalese manage to turn the situation around. In the night, this August 20, 1960, the assembly is assembled. The deputies repeal the law of transfer of competences to the Federation of Mali. Senegal proclaims its independence.

► To go further:

RFI Savoirs, African independence: Senegal

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