Once a part of ancient Malinke Kingdom that controlled the area from the 11th to the 17th centuries. The upper course of the Senegal River runs through the western part of the area. The middle course of the Niger River has 1,000 miles of navigable waters within these boundaries. Legendary Tombouctou (Timbuktu) is a port on the Niger River in the center of the country. ,French dominance in the area occurred in the 1890s. The territories of Senegambia and Niger were formed into the colony of Upper Senegal and Niger in 1904. Following World War I the name of the area was changed to French Sudan.,, Rulers:,,, ,French to 1960,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Franc = 100 Centimes,,