#mali federation

[silentambassadors]

Like many regions of West Africa (and the colonized world generally), the area encompassed by the modern state of Senegal was historically many different kingdoms with many different influences and chronologies.  In more recent history, this multiethnicity is demonstrated by the attempt to join with French Sudan (now Mali) at the time of independence from France (which union lasted roughly two months as the Mali Federation), and then later in the 1980s with a loose confederation with The Gambia, the Senegambia Confederation (which union only lasted roughly seven years).  It seems possible that maintaining a cohesive union within Senegal’s borders is probably enough to keep everyone occupied...

Stamp details: Top left: Issued in: 1914 From: Dakar, French Senegal MC #53

Top right: Issued in: 1943 From: Dakar, French Senegal MC #221

Second row left: Issued in: 1944 From: Dakar, French West Africa MC #1

Second row right: Issued on: March 21, 1959 From: Dakar, French West Africa MC #103

Third row: Issued on: November 19, 1960 From: Dakar, Republic of Senegal MC #234

Bottom left: Issued on: November 15, 1982 From: Dakar, Senegambia Confederation MC #776

Bottom right: Issued in: 2017 From: Dakar, Republic of Senegal MC #2254

Recognized as a sovereign state by the UN: Yes (since September 28, 1960) Official name: Republic of Senegal; Réewum Senegaal; République du Sénégal Member of the Universal Postal Union: Yes (since June 14, 1961)

[silentambassadors]

Mali, named for the Mali Empire (one of the three historical territories in the area that is now the Republic of Mali, along with the Ghana Empire and the Songhai Empire), was settled and twisted and shuffled here and spindled there and renamed and regoverned, etc., etc.  Originally part of French Sudan (not to be confused with the current Republic of Sudan, which was British), as such Mali was part of French West Africa while it existed, and briefly joined with Senegal to form the Mali Federation before Senegal declared its separate independence and Mali declared itself a republic.  But to get a feel for the antiquity of the Malian lands, remember that Timbuktu is in Mali, and that the Tuareg is not just a VW SUV.  In fact, the Tuareg (at least some of them) are fighting for self-governance in the northern region of Mali, having declared an independent state called Azawad in recent years.  Keep an ear out for future developments....

Stamp details: Top left: Issued on: March 9, 1931 From: Bamako, French Sudan MC #60

Top right: Issued in: 1943 From: Bamako, French Sudan MC #150

Middle left: Issued on: March 21, 1959 From: Dakar, French West Africa MC #103

Middle right: Issued on: November 7, 1959 From: Dakar, Mali Federation MC #1

Bottom left: Issued on: March 18, 1961 From: Bamako, Republic of Mali MC #22

Bottom right: Issued on: August 18, 2005 From: Bamako, Republic of Mali MC #2613

Recognized as a sovereign state by the UN: Yes (since September 28, 1960) Official name: Republic of Mali; République du Mali; Mali ka Fasojamana Member of the Universal Postal Union: Yes (since April 21, 1961)

[silentambassadors]

Happy Independence Day, Senegal!  Senegal and the French Sudan declared their independence and joined together on this date in 1959 (the declarations officially being recognized by the French government on this date in 1960), creating the Mali Federation.  [A few short months later, the Mali Federation in turn broke up as both Senegal and Mali declared independence from each other.]

Stamp details: Issued on: April 4, 2010 From: Dakar, Senegal MC #2150

[9to5buzzcom]

On Aug 20, 1960, Senegal withdraws from the Mali Federation.

[todeeinhistory-blog-blog]

August 20th 1960 - Senegal declares independence from the Mali Federation