- Senegalese Popular Bloc
The Senegalese Popular Bloc (in French: "Bloc Populaire Sénégalais") held its constitutive congress in
Dakar February 23 -25 1957. BPS was the result of the merger of theSenegalese Democratic Bloc (BDS) ofLéopold Sédar Senghor ,Senegalese Democratic Union (UDS),Casamancian Autonomous Movement (MAC) and a fraction of theSenegalese Popular Movement (MPS) led by Abdolaye Thiaw. The merger was however already in effect since August 1956.The congress elected Senghor as its political director and
Mamadou Dia as the general secretary.On
January 11 the same year BPS organized a meeting in Dakar, launching theAfrican Convention . The Convention was intended to evolve into an all-AOF party. The launching of the Convention was preceded by failed efforts of unity between BPS and theAfrican Democratic Rally (RDA). Senghor wanted the Convention to fill the role of a party corresponding to the "Indépendents d'Outre-Mer " parliamentary fraction that he belonged to.In 1958 the
African Convention and theAfrican Socialist Movement merged to form theParty of African Regroupment (PRA). As a result of this merger BPS merged with the Senegalese section of MSA,Senegalese Party of Socialist Action (PSAS), and formed theSenegalese Progressive Union (UPS).Source: Zuccarelli, François. "La vie politique sénégalaise (1940-1988)". Paris: CHEAM, 1988.
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