Posts Tagged ‘postal history of French Sudan’

French influence brought by explorer Faidherbe from the River Senegal to the Upper Niger was extended by conquest to the area of Tombouctou (1883) and stretched (without boundaries) as far as that influence could be maintained. The region was given the name Soudan Francais in 1891 with its capital at Kayes.
It was shrunk in 1899 by transferring 11 of the southern provinces to French Guinea, Ivory Coast and Dahomey (though two provinces were returned in 1900). The remainder was broken up into three military districts based on Tombouctou, Bobo Dioulasso and Zinder (Niger). The other territories became Upper Senegal and Middle Niger.

In 1902 the non-military zone became Senegambia and Niger and in 1904 Upper Senegal and Niger. The capital was moved to Bamako.

In 1911 Niger became the only military district and began to separate from the main colony. It became an independent colony in 1922.

Prior to that, in 1919, the colony of Upper Volta had been created by detaching six of the southern provinces from Upper Senegal and Niger and, in 1920, the remainder returned to the original name of French Sudan. When Upper Volta was abolished in 1933, parts of the original provinces reverted to French Sudan. On 4 April 1954, French Sudan joined Senegal to make the Mali Federation.

Upper Senegal and Middle Niger did not issue stamps. Stamps of French Sudan were used until 1903 when they were replaced by the stamps of Senegambia and Niger (q.v.).

In 1920 stamps of Upper Senegal and Niger (q .v.) were overprinted for use in French Sudan when it was reconstituted.

Used stamps of French West Africa 1944-59. Then became part of the Mali Federation.

Mauritania and Morocco occupied the Western Sahara Territory in February 1976 when Spain Formally relinquished control. After a three year war against POLISARIO, Mauritania gave up her claim to the southern sector of the former Spanish Territory.

There was a military coup in 1978 and Mauritania was ruled by a Military Committeeof National Salvation. In April 1991, President ould Tagu announced a politicalamnesty, followed by multi-party elections. The constitution was approved in July 1991. Since that date the country has remained stable.