Modibo Keïta

Modibo Keïta was a politician Malian who was president of the Republic of the Mali between 1960 and 1968. It was born the June 4th 1915 with Bamako (Mali). He died in detention with the camp of Kidal the May 16th 1977, his geôliers having brought poisoned food to him.

Its childhood and its youth

Modibo Keïta was born on June 4th, 1915 in Bamako-Coura, a district of Bamako, then capital of the French Sudan. It is resulting from a family Malinké and practicing Moslem woman. After having attended the elementary school of Bamako, it enters in 1931 to the college and in 1934, it continues its studies at the teacher training school teachers, the École William Ponty of Dakar, where it leaves major his promotion. In 1936, he becomes teacher. He will teach initially in bush then with Bamako, Sikasso and Tombouctou.

The beginning of its engagement

Very quickly, it engages in various associations. In 1937, it is stimulating group “art and theater”.

In 1937, it founds with Ouezzin Coulibaly the “trade union of the teachers of French Western Africa”.

He becomes member of the “Sudanese Bloc” created by Mamadou Konaté.

In 1943, it founds the review “the eye of Kénédougou” in which it criticizes the colonial capacity.

Regarded as dangerous opposing, he is imprisoned during three weeks with the Prison of Health in Paris in 1946.

The politician

This same year, is created in Bamako the African democratic Rassemblement (the GDR.), chaired by Felix Houphouët-Boigny. It takes the position of secretary general of the Sudanese Union the GDR.

In 1948, it is elected general adviser of the French Sudan.

In 1953, it is elected to advise French Union.

In 1956, he becomes mayor of Bamako and is elected appointed at the French National Assembly of which he becomes vice-president.

It will twice sit as Secretary of State in the French governments of the Fourth Republic:

In 1958, it is elected president of the constituent Assembly of the Fédération of Mali which gathers the French Sudan, the Senegal, the the Upper Volta and the Dahomey (these the last two countries will leave the federation quickly).

The president of Mali

The July 20th 1960, Modibo Keïta is named chief of the government of the Fédération of Mali (which gathers French Sudan and Senegal). After the bursting of this federation, on September 22nd, 1960, he proclaims the independence of French Sudan which becomes the republic of the Mali. He assumes the chairmanship of it.

Socialist, it directs his country towards a progressive socialization of the economy, initially of agriculture and trade with in October 1960 creation, of the SOMIEX (Company Malian of Import and Export) having the monopoly of the export of the products Malians and the importation of the manufactured goods and the food goods (sugar, the, dried milk,…) and of their distribution inside the country. The creation of the Frankly Malian in 1962 and the difficulties of provisioning involve an important inflation and a dissatisfaction in the population, in particular near the peasants and of the tradesmen.

On the political plan, Modibo Keïta quickly makes imprison its opponents like Fily Dabo Sissoko and Hamadoun Dicko. Starting from 1967, it starts the “revolution activates” and suspends the constitution by creating the National committee of defense of revolution (CNDR). The exactions of the “popular militia” and the devaluation of the frank Malian in 1967 bring a general dissatisfaction.

The November 19th 1968, the lieutenant Moussa Traoré organizes a coup d'etat and shift Modibo Keïta which it sends in prison to Kidal. During ten years of 1968 to 1978 the country is then directed by the CMLN (Military committee of national release).

Modibo Keïta dies in detention in Bamako the May 16th 1977 at the 62 years age in suspect circumstances. Radio-Mali diffuses an official statement announcing the death of " Mr. Modibo Keita, teacher in Bamako-Coura". Its funerals with the cemetery of Hamdallaye gave place to big demonstrations, repressed violently by the security services directed then by Tiécoro Bagayoko. He is rehabilitated in 1992 with the fall of the mode of Foamed Traoré by the president Alpha Oumar Konaré. The memorial Modibo Keita, is inaugurated in Bamako the June 6th 1999.

the panafricanist

Modibo Keïta has work all its life for the African unit. Initially while taking part in the creation of the Federation of Mali with Léopold Sédar Senghor.

After its bursting, it moves away from Léopold Sédar Senghor and with Sékou Touré (president of the Guinea) and Kwame Nkrumah (president of the Ghana), it founds the Union of the States of West Africa.

In 1963, it takes part in the drafting of the charter of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) of which it is one of the principal craftsmen.

Inviting to Bamako the king of Morocco and the Algerian president, it will work to put an end to the “war sands”, frontier conflict between the Algérie and the Morocco.

From 1963 to 1966, it will standardize its relations with the Senegal, the the Upper Volta and the Ivory Coast.

Partisan of the Non-alignment, it defended the nationalist movements like the Front of National Release (FLN) Algerian.

External bond

Site devoted to Modibo Keita: portrait, speech, photographs, vidéos…

Random links:Felix Kersten | George Blair | UTC+4 | Automobile Grand Prix of Belgium 2004 | The Harder They Like (album) | Banlieue_noire_de_Boonton,_New_Jersey