1861    El Hadj Umar Tall seizes the city of Segou, destroying the Bambara Empire of Mali.

1960    Independence of Mali and Senegal.

1960    Senegal breaks from the Mali federation, declaring its independence.

1960    The Sudanese Republic is renamed Mali after the withdrawal of Senegal from the Mali Federation.

1960    Mali and Senegal join the United Nations.

1960    Independence of Mali from France.

1992    A new constitution, providing for freedom to form political parties, is approved by a referendum in Mali.