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Independence Day
Senegal

Independence Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Senegal

Every 4 April is celebrated as Independence Day in Senegal. It is the day when Senegal joined French Sudan (now Mali) in a federation in 1959. This was a federation that was still under French colonial control, so Senegal was not independent, nor was Mali.

YearDateDayHoliday
20244 AprThuIndependence Day
20254 AprFriIndependence Day
20264 AprSatIndependence Day
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

Even though it is not really the day when Senegal became independent or declared independence, 4 April remains as the official Senegalese Independence Day.

Senegal had been the home of numerous warring tribal kingdoms, many of which sold other Africans as slaves to Europeans on the nearby “trade island” of Goree. However, after the French abolished slavery and the slave trade in the 1850’s, they began invading inland Senegal and ending slavery everywhere their armies conquered.

However, the region remained under the heavy handed rule of colonialism. It was on 20 June, 1960 that Senegal and Mali, still in union, became independent. And that same year, but a few months later, Senegal and Mali both declared their independence from each other.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
20234 AprTueIndependence Day
20224 AprMonIndependence Day
20214 AprSunIndependence Day
20204 AprSatIndependence Day
20194 AprThuIndependence Day
20184 AprWedIndependence Day
20173 AprMonIndependence Day Holiday
4 AprTueIndependence Day