French Sudan

French Sudan Soudan français
Colony of French West Africa
1880–1960
Flag (1958–1959)
Green: French Sudan Lime: French West Africa Gray: Other French possessions Black: French Republic
Anthem
La Marseillaise
Capital	Bamako1
Area
• 1959	1,241,238 km2 (479,245 sq mi)
Population
• 1959	4,407,000
Historical era	New Imperialism
• Established	c. 1880
• Federated with Senegal	1959
Preceded by Succeeded by Wassoulou Empire Toucouleur Empire Kénédougou Kingdom Mossi Kingdoms French West Africa Mali Federation
Today part of	Mali
1 Kayes (1892–1899)

French Sudan (French: Soudan français; Arabic: السودان الفرنسي as-Sūdān al-Faransī) was a French colonial territory in the Federation of French West Africa from around 1880 until 1959, when it joined the Mali Federation, and then in 1960, when it became the independent state of Mali. The colony was formally called French Sudan from 1890 until 1899 and then again from 1921 until 1958, and had a variety of different names over the course of its existence. The colony was initially established largely as a military project led by French troops, but in the mid-1890s it came under civilian administration.

A number of administrative reorganizations in the early 1900s brought increasing French administration over issues like agriculture, religion, and slavery. Following World War II, the African Democratic Rally (RDA) under Modibo Keïta became the most significant political force pushing for independence.

French Sudan initially retained close connections with France and joined in a short-lived federation with Senegal in 1959, but ties to both countries quickly weakened. In 1960, the French Sudan formally became the Republic of Mali and began to distance itself further from Senegal and France.