December 24, 1960: Mali joins the Ghana-Guinea Union

On December 24, 1960 Mali formally joined the Union of Independent African States (UIAS), which then became the Union of African States (UAS). The union planned to develop a common currency and unified foreign policy amongst members; however, none of these proposals were implemented by the countries. The union was the first organization in Africa to bring together former colonies of the British and the French. Although the union was open to all independent states in Africa, no other states joined. The union had a limited impact on politics as there was never any administration or permanent meetings to support the goals of unity. Its legacy was largely limited to longstanding political relationships between Kwame Nkrumah (President and Prime Minister of Ghana 1957–1966), Ahmed Sékou Touré (President of Guinea 1958–1984), and Modibo Keïta (President of Mali 1960–1968). The union again came into the news when Nkrumah was named as the co-president of Guinea, on the basis of a provision in the original Ghana-Guinea Union agreement, after he was deposed as President of Ghana by a military coup in 1966.

View the declassified CIA assessment:

https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000746173.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEAkGnXy9dQ