Editing Modibo Keïta (section)

==President of Mali==

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[[File:Keita 001.jpg|thumb|1960s commemorative wraps with Keïta's portrait]]

After the collapse of the [[Mali Federation]], the [[Sudanese Union – African Democratic Rally|US-RDA]] proclaimed the [[French Sudan|Sudanese Republic]]'s complete independence as the [[Mali|Republic of Mali]]. Keïta became its first [[President of Mali|president]], and soon afterward declared the [[Sudanese Union – African Democratic Rally|US-RDA]] to be the only legal party.

[[President of Mali|President]] Keïta, whose [[Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally]] (US-RDA) party had dominated pre-independence politics (as a member of the [[African Democratic Rally]]), moved quickly to declare a single-party state and to pursue a [[socialist]] policy based on extensive [[nationalization]]. As [[President of Mali|president]], he tasked the ruling political party, the [[Sudanese Union – African Democratic Rally]], with pursuing a policy of consolidating state power in order to modernize the country. The party's ideology was typical of African countries that had gained independence - a synthesis of [[Left-wing politics|leftist ideas]], including [[Marxism]], an emphasis on [[Tradition|national traditions]], and [[Islamism]]. Keïta withdrew from the [[French Community]] and also had close ties to the [[Eastern bloc]]. A continuously deteriorating economy led to a decision to rejoin the Franc Zone in 1967 and modify some of the economic excesses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mali |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/copr/7797108/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref>

As a socialist, he led his country towards the progressive socialization of the economy; at first starting with agriculture and trade, then in October 1960 creating the SOMIEX (Malian Import and Export Company), which had a monopoly over the exports of the products of Mali, as well as manufactured and food imports (e.g. [[sugar]], [[tea]], [[powdered milk]]) and their distribution inside the country. The establishment of the Malian franc in 1962, and the difficulties of provisioning, resulted in a severe inflation and dissatisfaction of the population, particularly the peasants and the businessmen. The authorities were also trying to introduce tough anti-slavery policies, which persisted in some parts of the country despite the official ban.

In June 1961, he paid a state visit to the United Kingdom, where Queen [[Elizabeth II]] invested him as an honorary Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Saint Michael and Saint George]].<ref>''[[The Times]]'', 8 June 1961, p. 16; Issue 55102; col. B.</ref> Although Keïta was initially viewed with some wariness by the [[United States]] because of his socialist views, he made it clear that he sought good relations with Washington. In September 1961, he travelled to America in the company of [[President of Indonesia|President]] [[Sukarno]] and met with [[President of the United States|President]] [[John F. Kennedy]]. Keïta, afterward, felt that he had a friend in Kennedy. He travelled to the United States after the [[1st Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement]] in [[Belgrade]], [[FPR Yugoslavia]] where the conference delegated him with expressing their common positions to the American administration.

[[File:JFKWHP-KN-C18793 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Modibo Keïta meeting with President Kennedy at the [[White House]] in 1961]]

He also resolved the [[Sand War|Conflict]] between [[Morocco]] and [[Algeria]] and would also try to form a [[Union of African States|union]] between [[Ghana]], and [[Guinea]] and worked tirelessly to improve relations with the countries of [[Senegal]]. He would also win the [[Lenin Peace Prize]] for his attempts on rebuilding the economy of Mali with socialism.  However Mali was dealing with financial and economic problems, made worse by an especially poor harvest in 1968 which would later lead to a [[1968 Malian coup d'état|coup]].<ref>[https://africa.sis.gov.eg/english/figures/politics/modibo-keita/ Modibo Keita]. sis.gov.eg</ref>

[[File:Predsednik republike Mali Modibo Keita s spremstvom v Tovarni avtomobilov in motorjev Maribor 1961.jpg|thumb|left| The President Modibo Keita worked at the Maribor Automobile and Motorcycle Factory in 1961]]

On the political level, Modibo Keïta quickly imprisoned opponents like [[Fily Dabo Sissoko]]. The first post-independence elections, in [[1964 Malian parliamentary election|1964]], saw a single list of 80 US-RDA candidates returned to the National Assembly, and Keïta was duly reelected to another term as president by the legislature.  From 22 August 1967,<ref>{{Cite web |title=24. Mali (1960-present) |url=https://uca.edu/politicalscience/home/research-projects/dadm-project/sub-saharan-africa-region/mali-1960-present/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=uca.edu |language=en-US}}</ref> he started the "revolution active" and suspended the constitution by creating the [[National Committee for the Defense of the Revolution]] (Comité national de défense de la révolution, CNDR). The exactions of the "milice populaire" (the US-RDA militia) and the devaluation of the Malian franc in 1967 brought general unrest.

On 19 November 1968, General [[Moussa Traoré]] overthrew Modibo Keïta in a [[1968 Malian coup d'état|coup d'état]], and sent him to prison in the northern Malian town of [[Kidal]].

[[File:JFKWHP-KN-C18793-A (cropped).jpg|thumb|Keïta in 1961.]]

After being transferred back to the capital Bamako in February 1977 in what was claimed to be an action by the government towards national reconciliation in preparation for his release,<ref>Imperato, P. J. (1989) ''Mali: a search for direction''. Routledge. p. 69. {{ISBN|9780367156480}}</ref> Modibo Keïta died, still a prisoner, on May 16, 1977.<ref>Diarra, P. (2009) ''Cent ans de catholicisme au Mali''. Karthala. p. 273. {{ISBN|2811102876}}</ref> His reputation was rehabilitated in 1992 following the overthrow of Moussa Traoré and subsequent elections of president [[Alpha Oumar Konaré]]. A monument to Modibo Keïta was dedicated in Bamako on June 6, 1999.