Senegalese Democratic Union (in French

French language

French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...

: Union Démocratique Sénégalais) was a political party

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

 in Senegal

Senegal

Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...

, founded in 1946 by the Communist Study Groups

Communist Study Groups

Communist Study Groups , was a communist group in colonial French West Africa/French Equatorial Africa. GEC was founded in 1943, under the influence of the French Communist Party. GEC formed branches in the capital cities of the West African territories. GEC was primarily based amongst intellectuals...

 (GEC). UDS became affiliated as the Senegalese section of the African Democratic Rally

African Democratic Rally

The African Democratic Rally was a political party in French West Africa, led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Founded in Bamako in 1946, the RDA quickly became one of the most important forces for independence in the region. Initially a Pan-Africanist movement, the RDA ceased to function as a...

 (RDA).

Later UDS was expelled from RDA, and substituted by the less radical Senegalese Popular Movement

Senegalese Popular Movement

Senegalese Popular Movement was a political party in Senegal. MPS was formed as the Senegalese section of the African Democratic Rally , following the expulsion of the Senegalese Democratic Union...

 (MPS).

In 1956 UDS decided to merge into the Senegalese Popular Bloc

Senegalese Popular Bloc

The Senegalese Popular Bloc held its constitutive congress in Dakar February 23-25 1957. BPS was the result of the merger of the Senegalese Democratic Bloc of Léopold Sédar Senghor, Senegalese Democratic Union , Casamancian Autonomous Movement and a fraction of the Senegalese Popular Movement ...

 (BPS). Former UDS cadres played an important role in the formation of African Regroupment Party-Senegal

African Regroupment Party-Senegal

African Regroupment Party-Senegal was a political party in Senegal. Formed in September 1958, following a split in the Senegalese Progressive Union...

(PRA-Sénégal).