West Africa
Algeria
The French took Algeria in 1830 and made it a part of France in 1848. Due to the resistance from the large numbers of European settlers in Algeria, the break from France in 1962 was so traumatic that it almost sent France into a state of civil war. On July 5, Algeria was proclaimed independent.
Burkina Faso
This country was named Upper Volta by the French in 1897, when they first established a protectorate over the Kingdom of Ouagadougou in the Mossi Empire. It became a separate colony in 1919 and was partitioned among Niger, the Sudan, and the Ivory Coast in 1933, then reconstitued in 1947. Burkina Faso became independent in 1960. It continues to have French as one of its official languages.
Mali
By the end of the 19th century, France had subjugated Mali and made it a French colony in 1904 (named French Sudan in 1920). On June 20, 1960, it achieved independence from the French Union, which it had joined in 1946. Under the name of Sudanese Republic, Mali was federated with the Republic of Senegal in the Mali Federation. Senegal withdrew from the republic in August of 1960; thus Mali changed the name to the Republic of Mali. Today, French is the official language of Mali.
Morocco
In the 19th century, frequent clashes between Spain and France led to the division of Morocco in 1904, into zones of French and Spanish influence. In 1912, these zones became protectorates. In 1956, Spain and France recognized the independence of Morocco. Today, French is still widely spoken.
Togo
The area was established as a German colony in 1884, but was later split between the British and the French through a League of Nations mandate after World War I. The British side voted to be incorporated into Ghana. Togo became independent in 1960. Today, the official language is French.
Tunisia
French troops occupied the country in 1881 and a treaty was signed acknowledging the French protectorate. In 1955, Nationalist agitation forced France to grant internal autonomy, followed by independence in 1956. Today, Tunisia maintains French and Arabic as its official languages.
Zaire
The most likely source of French influence comes indirectly from the Belgian administration. Formerly the Belgian Congo, Zaire was obtained by the king of the Belgians in 1885, through treaties with the native chiefs. Belgium took over administration of the Congo until agitation forced them to grant freedom to Zaire in 1960. Today, French is still the country's official language.
French West Africa
In 1904, French possessions were reorganized into one large territory known as French West Africa. These countries were Mauretania, Senegal, French Guinea, Ivory Coast, Dahomey, and Niger. This territory had Dakar as the capital. The countries slowly separated after World War II.
Benin
In 1893, the French annexed Dahomey. It became a part of French West Africa in 1904. In 1958, it was established as an autonomous republic within the French Community and was granted its independence within the Community on August 1, 1960. In 1975, President Mathieu Kerekou changed the name to Benin. In 1991, Benin had their first free presidential election.
Guinea
Guinea achieved independence from France by rejecting the new French Constitution and having Sekou Toure as president in 1958 . Toure led the country to become the first Marxist state in Africa. French diplomatic relations were suspended in 1965 and the Soviet Union took their palace as the chief source of economic and technical assistant. Guinea continues to have French as the official language and continues a trading partnership with France.
Ivory Coast
The country was first explored by the Portuguese. In the 19th century, the French set up establishments for trading. They obtained territorial concessions from local tribes in 1842, which gradually extended their claims along the coast and inland. This territory was later organized and became known as French West Africa. In 1960, the Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) achieved independence from France.
Mauritania
The country was first explored by the Portuguese but was later organized into French West Africa in 1904. Mauritania became an independent nation a few months after the Ivory Coast in 1960. Morocco then claimed the territory but Mauritania held on to its independence and joined the United Nations in 1961. Though there is a large Arabic community, French is still widely spoken.
Niger
Niger became a part of French West Africa in 1896. In 1922, it became a French colony and in 1958, voters accepted the French Constitution and it became an autonomous republic within the French Community. In 1959, the republic proclaimed its independence from the Community. Today, Niger maintains trading relations with France and has French as the official language.
Senegal
In the 15th century, Portugal had stations on the bank of the Senegal River and the French began settling in 1650. The British took parts of it at certain times but France gained possession in 1840. It became a part of the organized territory in 1904 and achieved independence in 1960. Senegal has French as the official language of the country.