Léopold Sédar Senghor resigns after twenty years as Senegalese president.

Léopold Sédar Senghor was a poet and writer who later became president of Senegal.  He was educated in Paris where he got acquainted with Aimé Césaire. After his studies, Senghor remained in Paris and earned his citizenship. He later joined the French army. He later chose to  return to his native country and led the struggle for independence. When Senegal gained independence in 1960, Senghor became the country’s first democratically elected president. On 31 December 1980, Senghor became resigned as president of Senegal. Abdou Diouf was chosen as his successor. He was the first African president to resign voluntarily. He died in 2001 in his home in France at the age of 95.