L’Africa Occidentale Francese fra Autonomie e Fallimenti. Il caso del Soudan/Mali

This thesis analyses the decolonization process of West Africa French territories, since the Brazzaville’s Conference until the obtaining of Independence. The aim of this research project refers to the importance of French Soudan, nowadays Mali, in French West Africa, and how the leaders of this territory conducted the dialogue with the colonial authorities. The Soudan’s political elite followed the political direction dictated by Houphouet-Boigny, leader of the political movement which connected French territories in this area, until the decision of breaking free from this position. Modibo Keita, father of the Nation of Mali, developed new alliances between the RDA leadership, but also with other political parties and leaders, such as Senghor. Keita and the Senegalese leader tried to avoid the balkanization of West Africa, proposing a project which was based on the principles of African Unity.