The Senegalese Popular Bloc (in French: Bloc Populaire Sénégalais (BPS)) was the result of the merger of the Senegalese Democratic Bloc (BDS) of Léopold Sédar Senghor, Senegalese Democratic Union (UDS), Casamancian Autonomous Movement (MAC) and a fraction of the Senegalese Popular Movement (MPS) led by Abdolaye Thiaw.
[1][2][3][4][5][6] The congress elected Senghor as its political director and Mamadou Dia as the general secretary.
[3][7][5] On January 11 the same year BPS organized a meeting in Dakar, launching the African Convention.
The launching of the Convention was preceded by failed efforts of unity between BPS and the African 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.