African Independence Party

African Independence Party (in French: Parti Africain de l'Indépendance) was a communist party in French West Africa (AOF). PAI was founded in Thiès, Senegal 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.[1]

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 Work (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 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
• African Independence Party (Touré), legally recognized as PAI