The African Independence Party (, PAI) was a communist party in

French West Africa French West Africa (, ) was a federation of eight French colonial empires#Second French colonial empire, French colonial territories in West Africa: Colonial Mauritania, Mauritania, French Senegal, Senegal, French Sudan (now Mali), French Guin ...

(AOF). PAI was founded in

Thiès Thiès (; ; Noon language, Noon: ''Chess'') is the third largest city in Senegal with a population of 391,253 in 2023. It lies east of Dakar on the N2 road (Senegal), N2 road and at the junction of railway lines to Dakar, Bamako and Saint-Louis, ...

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

in 1957. Later as AOF was dissolved into independent countries the local PAI sections became independent parties, often keeping the name PAI. PAI was the first party in AOF to unequivocally demand independence from French rule.Chafer, Tony. ''The end of empire in French West Africa : France's successful decolonization?''.

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

: Berg, 2002. p. 210 In Senegal PAI was banned on August 1, 1960. In Senegal the following parties trace/traced their origin back to PAI: *

Party of Independence and Labour The Party of Independence and Labour (, PIT) is a socialist and formerly communist political party in Senegal. For years it was led by Amath Dansokho. History PIT emerged from the Senegalese branch of the African Independence Party (PAI). At the ...

(PIT, technically the original PAI) * African Independence Party – Renewal (legally registered as PAI) * Democratic League/Movement for the Labour Party * Senegalese Communist Party (short-lived pro-Chinese faction) In Upper Volta/

Burkina Faso Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa, bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Ivory Coast to the southwest. It covers an area of 274,223 km2 (105,87 ...

PAI was established in 1963. PAI attained importance through its mass front Patriotic League for Development (LIPAD). Today LIPAD is dissolved, and PAI has split in two factions: * African Independence Party (Ouédraogo). Technically the original PAI **

Party for Democracy and Socialism A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature ...

*** Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba * African Independence Party (Touré), legally recognized as PAI ** Party of Independence, Labour and Justice

List of founders of PAI

*Madame Basse *M. Basse *Coupet Camara * Seydou Cissokho *Adama Diagne *Oumar Diallo *Birahim Diawara Birahim *Majhemout Diop *Bouna Fall *Abdou Ka *Alioune Kamara *Malick Kamara *Basile Khaly *Tidiane Baïdy Ly *Abdou Moumouni *Abdoulaye Ndiaye *Samba Ndiaye *Samba * Khalilou Sall *Ousmane Santara *Bacirou Sarr *Moussé Guèye Seck *

Ahmed Sékou Touré Ahmed Sékou Touré (var. Sheku Turay or Ture; N'Ko: ; 9 January 1922 – 26 March 1984) was a Guinean political leader and African statesman who was the first president of Guinea from 1958 until his death in 1984. Touré was among the primary ...

References

{{Portal, Communism 1957 establishments in French West Africa African and Black nationalist parties in Africa Communist parties in Africa Pan-African organizations Political parties established in 1957 Political parties in French West Africa Political parties with year of disestablishment missing Transnational political parties