French Sudan

Infobox Former Country
native_name = Soudan français
conventional_long_name = French Sudan
common_name = Sudan|
continent = Africa
region = French West Africa
country = Mali
era = New Imperialism
status = Colony
empire = France
life_span = 1890 - 1902
1920 - 1959|
event_start =
year_start = 1890
date_start = August 18
event_end = Federated with Senegal
year_end = 1959
date_end = April 4
event1 = Partial dissolution
date_event1 = October 10, 1899
event2 = Senegambia and Niger
date_event2 = 1902
event3 = Recreated
date_event3 = 1920
event4 = Autonomy
date_event4 = November 28, 1958|
p1 = Upper Senegal and Niger
flag_p1 = Flag of France.svg
p2 = French Upper Volta
flag_p2 = Flag of France.svg
s1 = Senegambia and Niger
flag_s1 = Flag of France.svg
s2 = Mali Federation
flag_s2 = Flag of Mali 1959-1961.svg|

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|
capital = Bamako¹
common_languages = French
currency = French West African franc |
stat_year1 = 1959
stat_area1 = 1241238
footnotes = ¹ Kayes (1892-1899)

French Sudan ( _fr. Soudan) was a colony in French West Africa that had two separate periods of existence, first from 1890 to 1899, then from 1920 to 1960, when the territory became the independent nation of Mali.

Colonial Establishment

It was created as a French territory on September 9, 1880 as "Upper Senegal", and was renamed the "French Sudan Territory" on August 18, 1890, with its capital at Kayes. On October 10, 1899 French Sudan was broken up; 11 southern provinces went to French Guinea, the Côte d'Ivoire and Dahomey, although two were returned in the following year.

In 1902 the parts of the colony not organized into military districts became Senegambia and Niger, then Upper Senegal and Niger in 1904, then the old name came back in a reorganization of 1920.

When the French Upper Volta was first abolished in 1933 (it was reestablished in 1947), French Sudan picked up some of its provinces.

Independence

After the 4 October, 1958 French constitutional referendum, the "République Soudanaise" became a member of the French Community, once again with the name French Sudan, and gained complete internal autonomy 25 November 1958.

On 4 April 1959, French Sudan was joined with Senegal to form the Mali Federation, which became fully independent within the French Community on June 20 1960. The federation collapsed on August 20 1960, when Senegal seceded. On 22 September, French Sudan proclaimed itself the Republic of Mali and withdrew from the French Community.

ee also

* Sudan (region): the "sudan" or "soudan" fr icon climate region, of which French Soudan formed the western part.