Stamp issues were continous from 1915 (see above German Cameroons: Allied Occupation).

After extensive unrest, multi-party elections wee held in March 1992. Presdential elections were held in October 1992 and were won by the existing holder of the office, Paul Biya. In November, a new coalition government was formed which has held power ever since.

There have been armed clashes with Nigeria over the disputed Bakassi peninsula. This dispute is under consideration at the International Court of Justice.

The Vichy regime survived an abortive Allied attempt to take Dakar (23-25 September 1940) until November 1942 when it became Free French. On 25 November 1958 Senegal accepted independence within the French Community, but joined with French Sudan on 4 April 1959 to form the Mali Federation. Senegal withdrew from this federation on 22 August 1960 and on 5 September became a republic within the French Community.

In 1842 Goree was given the first postal service in French West Africa; it was not an integral part of Senegal until 1859. The first mainland PO was at St Louis (c.1856). By 19.15, there were 55 POs in operation.

Senegal issues were also used in the region known as Rivieres du Sud (after 1892, part of French Guinea) where known POs include Conakry, Benty, Boffa, Boke, Dubreka and Victoria; also at Kaedi and Rosso (after 1906 part of Mauritania), and at Kita and Kayes (later in French Sudan). Used stamps of French West Africa from 1944-59.

President Diouf was re-elected in the first round of Presidential elections in February 1993. In August 1998, the National Assembly voted to remove the restriction that limited the President to only two 7 year terms and Diouf who was originally installed in 1981 has remained President ever since.

Senegal 1906
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Before 1906 the only POs were at Kaedi and Rosso (closed before 1915), administered from Senegal, whose stamps were used. In 1915 there were 10 POs in the colony.

Vichy stamps of Mauritania have been seen used in Senegal in 1944. Used stamps of French West Africa 1945-59.

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/

French Sudan 1920
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Postmarks of the colony were worded 'Ht Senegal et Niger'; in Niger itself they were amended to read 'Territoire Militaire du Niger'. In 1915 there were 72 POs in the colony and 11 in the military territory of Niger. Stamps were overprinted for French Sudan when the name was changed again in 1920.

The regime of Modibo Keita was overthrown in 1968 by a group of army officers who formed a National Liberation Committee and appointed Moussa Traore as prime minister and head of state. A civil constitiution came into being in 1979.

President Traore was overthrown in March 1991 by troops led by Lt. Col. Toure. A transitional government was formed in April and a new constitution was approved by referendum in January 1992.

By referendum, it was declared a republic under the name Republic of Guinea outside the French Community on 2 October 1958.

Initially used the French Colonies General Issues, which can be recognized by postmarks. Stamps of Senegal were used 1887-92 before the colonial standard issue in November 1892.

In 1915 there were 35 POs in the colony. Used stamps of French West Africa 1944-59.

French Guinea c1906
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On 1 January 1933 Upper Volta ceased to exist and six provinces were added to Ivory Coast. They remained part of the colony until Upper Volta was re-created in 1947. Ivory Coast became an autonomous republic within the French Community on 4 December 1958. Became independent on 7 August 1960.

Initially used the French Colonies General Issues at Assinie in 1862-71, and after the return special datestamps were used at Jacqueville, GrandBassam, and Assinie from 1889 inscribed 'Cote d'Or d'Afrique' (also, after 1892, at Grand Lahou).

By 1915 there were 38 POs in the colony and this number was increased in 1933 when certain provinces of Upper Volta were added to the colony. Used stamps of French West Africa from 1944-59. The Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI) won multi-party elections in November 1990. The President, Houphouet-Boigny, who had been the incumbent since 1960, died in 1993 and was replaced by the Parliamentary Speaker. The PDCI maintained a full majority in Parliament. In 1999, an attempted coup by military officers showed the discontent with the existing Parliamentary control, but was crushed after a short period.

Ivory Coast c1906
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Placed first under Gabon, then transferred to Senegal in 1886 under the name of Etablissements Francais du Golfe de Benin. They were incorporated into Dahomey (see below) in 1899.

Cancellations inscribed BENIN are known from Aquoua, Kotonou (later Cotonou), Grand-Popo, Porto Novo and Whydah.

Dahomey remained within the French Community after autonomy was granted 4 December 1958, but left it at independence on 1 August 1960.
Changed name to the People's Republic of Benin (see below) on 30 November 1975.

It is probable that only military offices existed up-country before 1899, but the provinces of French Sudan were issued with postmarks in 1899-1900 worded 'Haut Dahomey', which continued to be used after the provinces were detached. By 1915 there were 30 POs in the colony.

The stamps of French West Africa were used 1944-60. The first stamps issued as an independent republic were in 1960. Between 1963 and 1972 successive Governments were overthrown by the military and a coup d'etat in 1972 brought to power a Marxist-Leninist military government. The name was changed to the People's Republic of Benin.

Dahomey pre 1920
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Independent republic based on the colony of Dahomey, which changed its name on 30 November 1975. The Government dropped Marxism-Leninism in 1989, revoked the Constitution in March 1990 and changed the country's name to the Republic of Benin early in 1990.


Republic of Benin