Editing Senegal (section)

=== Independence ===
[[File:Mali Federation in its region.svg|thumb|upright=1.2|The short-lived [[Mali Federation]]]]In January 1959, Senegal and the [[French Sudan]] merged to form the [[Mali Federation]], which became fully independent on 20 June 1960, as a result of a transfer of power agreement signed with France on 4 April 1960. Due to internal political difficulties, the Federation broke up on 20 August 1960 when Senegal and French Sudan (renamed the Republic of [[Mali]]) each proclaimed independence.

[[Léopold Sédar Senghor]] was elected Senegal's first president in August 1960. Pro-African, Senghor advocated a brand of African socialism.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Critical bibliography of French literature: in three parts. The Twentieth |editor-last=Cabeen |editor-first=David Clark |editor-last2=Brooks |editor-first2=Richard A. |editor-last3=Alden |editor-first3=Douglas W. |publisher=Syracuse University Press |date=1 January 1980}}</ref>

After the breakup of the Mali Federation, Senghor and Prime Minister [[Mamadou Dia]] governed together under a parliamentary system. In December 1962, their political rivalry led to an [[1962 Senegalese coup d'état attempt|attempted coup]] by Dia. The coup was put down without bloodshed and Dia was arrested and imprisoned. Senegal adopted a new constitution that consolidated the President's power.

Senghor was considerably more tolerant of opposition than most African leaders became in the 1960s. Nonetheless, political activity was somewhat restricted for a time. Senghor's party, the Senegalese Progressive Union (now the [[Socialist Party of Senegal]]), was the only legally permitted party from 1965 until 1975.  In the latter year, Senghor allowed the formation of two opposition parties that began operation in 1976—a Marxist party (the [[African Independence Party&nbsp;– Renewal|African Independence Party]]) and a liberal party (the [[Senegalese Democratic Party]]).

The 1960s and early 1970s saw the continued and persistent violating of Senegal's borders by the Portuguese military from [[Portuguese Guinea]]. In response, Senegal petitioned the [[United Nations Security Council]] [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 178|in 1963]], [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 204|1965]], 1969 (in response to shelling by Portuguese artillery), [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 294|1971]] and finally in [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 321|1972]].