Upper Senegal and Niger

Colony of Upper Senegal and Niger
Haut Sénégal et Niger (French)
1904 (1904)–1921 (1921)
A map of Upper Senegal and Niger circa 1912 from French colonial report
StatusColony in French West Africa
CapitalBamako
Common languagesFrench
History 
• Established
1904 (1904)
• Disestablished
1921 (1921)
Area
• Total
780,000 km2 (300,000 sq mi)
CurrencyFrench West African franc
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Senegambia and Niger
French Upper Volta
French Sudan
Colony of Niger
Today part ofBurkina Faso
Mali
Niger

Upper Senegal and Niger (French: Haut Sénégal et Niger) was a colony in French West Africa, created on 21 October 1904 from colonial Senegambia and Niger by the decree "For the Reorganisation of the general government of French West Africa". It was split into French Upper Volta and French Sudan in 1920 and 1921.

At its creation, the "Colony of Upper Senegal and Niger" contained the old territories of Upper Senegal, the Middle Niger, and three military territories in Niger. The colonial region covered 300,000 square miles (780,000 km2) and the military region of Niger covered a further 50,000 square miles (130,000 km2). Its capital was Bamako.