Postage stamps and postal history of French Sudan issue of December 1958. It was followed by a Stamp Day issue on March 21, 1959, which omitted the federation's name and was inscribed "CF" along with "Dakar-Abidjan" for use in Ivory Coast and Senegal. French Sudan 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. Postage stamps and postal history of French Sudan French Sudan (Soudan Francais) was established in the late nineteenth century and occupied roughly the same territory as modern Mali. From 1894 to 1902, the colony of French
French Sudan The area was "Upper River" from 1880 until 18 August 1890, when it was renamed "French Sudan", with its capital at Kayes. On 10 October 1899, French Sudan was divided, with the southern cercles joining coastal colonies, and the rest split into two administrative areas called "Middle Niger" and "Upper Senegal". In 1902, the region again was organized as a unified colony under the name Senegambia and Niger ("Sénégambie et Niger"). The name changed again in 1904 to Upper Senegal and Niger ("Haut Sénégal et Niger"). Finally, in 1921, the name changed back to "French Sudan" ("Soudan Français"). Borders and