Mali Independence Day – September 22, 2024

History of Mali Independence Day

The West African region that we now call Mali was previously one of three massive empires that controlled sub-Saharan trade. These three empires — the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire, and the Songhai Empire, were not only incredibly powerful but were immensely wealthy too. Mali was, in fact, one of the richest countries in Africa and the world, and its emperor at the time, Mansa Musa, is often referred to as the wealthiest person in history. The country was also a famous place of learning and culture and was a center of Islam.

As the Mali empire weakened over time, they were subsumed by the expanding Songhai Empire. As Europe established different trade routes, the once rare and prosperous sub-Saharan trade route began to lose prominence. These once-wealthy empires experienced a significant decline in influence and power. By the 19th century, even as colonialism had spread around the world, Mali’s distance from the sea helped the region escape dominion. However, the Mali empire had experienced a series of internal Islamic religious wars, leaving the region with multiple theocratic states. And now, France started taking an interest in the landlocked country, gradually taking control by 1892, and finally making it a French colonial region by 1905.

It was only in 1946 that a territorial assembly called the Sudanese Union–African Democratic Party (Union Soudanaise–Rassemblement Démocratique Africain or U.S.–R.D.A.) was formed. This was the region’s first step to becoming autonomous and independent of French authority. They merged with Senegal in January 1959, forming the Mali Federation. France then signed an agreement to transfer power back to the native people, which went into effect in June 1960.

Another setback was coming for the Mali people, however. Policy differences surfaced between Senegal and Mali. This, combined with dashed hopes that other Francophone regions would join their union, led to a dissolution of the Mali Federation in August of that same year. A month later, Mali declared its independence anyway and became the Republic of Mali. Celebrations to commemorate this struggle for independence have been held ever since.