ARRL DXCC ENTITY RE-EVALUATION MEMORANDUM – 6W

6W — SENEGAL
Evaluation Under 1960 ARRL DXCC Rules

I. PURPOSE

This memorandum evaluates whether 6W — Senegal qualifies as a separate ARRL DXCC Entity under the 1960 ARRL DXCC Rules, the ruleset active during Senegal’s transition from a French Overseas Territory to the sovereign Republic of Senegal.

The evaluation covers:

• Independence and sovereignty
• UN membership and international recognition
• Dissolution of the Mali Federation (1960)
• Succession from French West Africa administrative frameworks
• Application of 1960 political-entity rules

Senegal appears on the DXCC List as a distinct sovereign political entity beginning in 1960.

II. BACKGROUND

Pre-1958 Status

• Senegal was part of French West Africa (AOF) beginning in 1895.
• Administered as a French colony with its capital at Dakar, which later became the federal capital of AOF.

1958–1960 Transitional Status

• In 1958, Senegal became a self-governing republic within the French Community.
• On 4 April 1960, Senegal merged with the Sudanese Republic (modern Mali) to form the Mali Federation, a short-lived sovereign state.

Dissolution & Independence (1960)

• The Mali Federation dissolved on 20 August 1960.
• Senegal withdrew and declared full independence as the Republic of Senegal.
• French Community ties were terminated, and Dakar became the national capital.

International Recognition

• France and other global powers recognized Senegal immediately.
• Senegal was admitted to the United Nations on 28 September 1960.
• Joined the OAU shortly after its founding.

DXCC Prefix Assignment

• The ITU allocated 6W / 6V for Senegal.
• Earlier activity used French colonial blocks.

DXCC History

• ARRL recognized Senegal as a DXCC Entity in 1960 as part of the large wave of French Community dissolutions.

III. ANALYSIS UNDER THE 1960 DXCC RULES

Under the 1960 DXCC Rules, there were two paths to DXCC Entity status:

1. Political Entities (Rule 1)

Qualifying entities included:

• Sovereign states — automatic qualification
• Distinct non-sovereign territories (colonies, protectorates, mandates, trust territories)

2. Geographic Entities (Rule 2)

Not applicable to mainland African nations.

Senegal’s qualification is entirely under Rule 1(a).

1. POLITICAL ENTITY CRITERIA (1960)

1(a) Sovereign Independent Nation — ✔ PASS

• Senegal became a sovereign state on 20 August 1960, immediately after leaving the Mali Federation.
• French administration ceased; no foreign authority remained.

1(b) Independent Government — ✔ PASS

• Senegal established:
– President (Léopold Sédar Senghor)
– National Assembly
– Independent judiciary and ministries
• Maintained political continuity after the Federation’s dissolution.

1(c) International Recognition — ✔ PASS

• Recognized by France, the U.S., UK, USSR, and many other states.
• Diplomatic relations established rapidly across Africa and Europe.

1(d) UN Membership — ✔ PASS

• Admitted to the United Nations on 28 September 1960, confirming full sovereign status.

1(e) Defined Territorial Identity — ✔ PASS

• Territory corresponds to pre-Federation Senegalese borders.
• Internationally recognized, clearly defined geographic and political boundaries.

1(f) DXCC Succession Rule — ✔ PASS

• French West Africa (AOF) dissolved into distinct sovereign states.
• Mali Federation briefly existed as a sovereign DXCC entity.
• Following dissolution, Senegal emerged as the political successor to its portion of the former Federation.

Conclusion:
Senegal satisfies all Political Entity criteria under the 1960 DXCC Rules.

2. GEOGRAPHIC ENTITY CRITERIA (1960)

Not applicable.
Senegal is a mainland state; geographic rules (island separation) do not apply.

3. SPECIAL-AREA CRITERIA (1960)

None apply.

4. 1960 DELETION CRITERIA — NOT TRIGGERED

Deletion in 1960 would require:

Loss of sovereignty
Merger with another nation
Territorial dissolution or absorption
Error in initial recognition

None apply:

• Senegal has remained a stable sovereign state since 1960
• No mergers or absorptions occurred
• DXCC recognition was correct and consistent

V. FINAL DETERMINATION

✅ 6W — SENEGAL qualifies as an ARRL DXCC Entity under the 1960 DXCC Rules.

Qualification Basis (1960):

✔ Full sovereign independence (20 August 1960)
✔ UN membership (28 September 1960)
✔ Distinct political, legal, and territorial identity
✔ Successor to French West Africa / Mali Federation dissolution
✔ Satisfies DXCC Rule 1(a) Political Entity criteria

Conclusion:
Under the 1960 ARRL DXCC Rules, Senegal is unequivocally a valid Political DXCC Entity, recognized immediately after independence.

VI. SUMMARY TABLE

Rule (1960)	Pass/Fail	Notes
Sovereign Country	✔ PASS	Independent 20 Aug 1960
Independent Government	✔ PASS	Republic of Senegal
UN Membership	✔ PASS	Joined UN 28 Sep 1960
International Recognition	✔ PASS	Immediate global recognition
Territorial Identity	✔ PASS	Successor to Mali Federation
Geographic Rules	N/A	Mainland state
Deletion Criteria	Not Triggered	Sovereignty intact
Final Status	VALID ENTITY (1960)	Political sovereign entity

References

ARRL DXCC Rules, editions current through 1960
Clinton B. DeSoto, W1CBD, “How to Count Countries Worked, A New DX Scoring System,” QST, October 1935
ARRL DXCC Country Lists, late-1950s and early-1960s editions
Historical records of Senegal’s independence and dissolution of the Mali Federation (1960)
DXCC precedent involving newly independent African states recognized in the late-1950s and early-1960s