The Second World War marked a major turning point in Frances relations with its colonies. The turmoil that characterised French politics during and after the war led to constitutional changes that facilitated African independence. In 1946 for example, France’s Fourth Republic passed a new constitution which granted citizenship to France’s colonial subjects.
In Africa, the bedrock of agitation against French colonialism was Algeria. The Algerian war of independence which erupted in 1954 became increasing ferocious as the French settlers vehemently opposed the idea of independence for Algeria. Though France finally let go of Tunisia and Morocco in 1956, Algeria only wrestled its way out of France’s grip in 1962.
Before the Algerian question came to its end, French diplomacy towards Africa registered a severe setback when Guinea Guinea`s first President Ahmed Sekou Toure opted for complete independence out of the French Union. He was inspired by Kwame Nkrumah’s vision of a new, united and strong Africa free of outside interference. This move provoked the wrath of France which attempted to bring Guinea to its knees.
Before granting independence to its colonies, France negotiated (or imposed agreements) by which France retained extensive political, economic and cultural rights over many of these colonies. These were sealed by military agreements by which France stationed its troops in these African territories to protect French interests.
Several decades after independence, France continued to wield tremendous influence over its former colonies and in many situations intervened directly in the politics of these countries. Many post colonial leaders in former French colonies paid allegiance to France. This was what Mr Lyon M`ba, first President of Gabon meant when he said “Africa is independent, but between France and Africa, nothing has changed.“
The visible and lasting legacies of French control over Africa are the French language – the mode of communication in all former French colonies, the currency (Africa Franc Zone CFA) which is tied to the French francs and the presence of French soldiers on African soil.
