a political and administrative association of French colonial possessions in West Africa that was created between 1895 and 1904 and existed until October 1958. In 1958 it included Senegal, Mauritania, the French Sudan, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Dahomey, and Niger. The colonies were administered from Dakar in Senegal.
Under pressure from the anti-imperialist movement, which gained momentum after World War II, the French government in 1958 granted the colonies the status of autonomous republics within French West Africa. At that time Guinea opted for independence. In 1960 independence was declared by the Ivory Coast, Dahomey, Upper Volta, Niger, and Mauritania. Senegal and the Sudanese Republic (the former French Sudan) merged in April 1959 to form the Mali Federation, which declared its independence in June 1960. When Senegal seceded in August 1960 the Sudanese Republic was proclaimed the Republic of Mali.