Colonial Central Africa - French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa (French Colonies) (Africa)AD 1910 - 1960Incorporating French Congo (1882-1903), French Gabon (1885-1960), Upper Ubangi (1894-1899), French Chad (1900-1960), Upper Shari (1900-1903),. . .
French Equatorial Africa (French Colonies) (Africa)AD 1910 - 1960Incorporating French Congo (1882-1903), French Gabon (1885-1960), Upper Ubangi (1894-1899), French Chad (1900-1960), Upper Shari (1900-1903), Middle Congo (1903-1960), Ubangi-Shari (1903-1906), Ubangi-Shari-Chad (1906-1960), Federation of French Colonies (1910-1934), French Colony (1934-1958), & Union of Central African Republics (1959-1960)In a history ofAfricawhich can at times be difficult to uncover, some native states stand out, if only for the opposition they provided toEuropeancolonial efforts. Central Africa was poorly defined as a region until the creation of the colonial-era territories, with only theBornuempire to the north impinging upon a poorly-settled region. France's interest in Central Africa was formalised in the late nineteenth century. The colony ofFrench Congowas founded in 1882, having first been formed in 1880 to include the Bateke people of the River Congo's northern shore. Also known as 'Gabon-Congo', it should not be confused with Belgian Congo or Portuguese Congo. It becameMiddle Congo(or Moyen-Congo in French) in 1903. The core of this colony today forms the nation state ofChad, although it also included areas of today'sGabonand the westernmost part ofCentral African Republic. The colony ofFrench Gabonwas created in 1885, drawing together severalBantu-speaking groups in the process, including theMpongwe, and absorbing the state ofOrungu. This formed the core of today's Gabon nation state. Upper Ubangi(Haut-Oubangui) was formalised in 1894, although it had existed since 9 December 1891 as part of French Congo. Belgian Congo contested the French presence until an agreement was reached in 1895. Upper Ubangi was merged back into French Congo on 10 December 1899, whileUpper Shari(Haut-Chari) was established within French Congo on 5 September 1900. TheFrench Chadmilitary territory was formed in 1900 following the defeat of theZobeirdynasty. This was drawn into French Congo and today's Chad. The colony ofUbangi-Shari(or Oubangui-Chari) was founded on 29 December 1903. This included territory between the Ubangi and Shari rivers and incorporated the former Upper Ubangi and Upper Shari colonies. It merged with French settlements around Lake Chad on 11 February 1906 to createUbangi-Shari-Chad. It gained the sultanates ofRafaïandZémioin 1909, andBangassouin 1917, plus the sultanate ofDar al-Kuti(all now within Central African Republic). France on 15 January 1910 formed the 'Federation of French Colonies' out of all of those Central African colonial possessions. Ubangi-Shari-Chad was separated between 1916-1934, but general reorganisation in 1934 brought it back into the fold as part of the greater 'French Colony', the new name for the federation. Various additional minor administrative reforms and changes of district names took place too, but generally these are not covered here. The beginnings of administrative independence in 1958 saw the French colony officially ended and, in 1959, the 'Union of Central Africa Republics' began. This lasted into 1960, when each of the newly-created independent nation states of modern Africa had been formed out of their colonial predecessors. During the inter-war years and immediately prior to the First World War the region was exploited ruthlessly for its resources, akin to a modern company being asset-stripped. The natives fared badly, suffering from European diseases against which they had little inbuilt resistance, along with malnutrition and an unforgivable number of deaths due to poor conditions in the forced labour teams which were building the railways and other European infrastructure. Following the Second World War, however, things changed greatly. Colonial empires could no longer be maintained and were viewed more as unwanted hindrances as Europe attempted to rebuild. The French colony was dissolved in 1958 as it became autonomous instead of being subject to direct French administration. Principal author(s):Page created:Page last updated:(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Richard A Bradshaw and Juan Fandos-Rius, fromCulture and Customs of the Central African Republic, Jacqueline Woodfrok (Greenwood Press, 2006), fromHistorical Dictionary of the Central African Republic, Pierre Kalck (Third Ed, Scarecrow Press 2005), fromThe Value of Disorder: Autonomy, Prosperity, and Plunder in the Chadian Sahara, Julien Brachet & Judith Scheele (Cambridge University Press, 2019), fromHistoire militaire des colonies, pays de protectorat et pays sous mandat. 7(Histoire militaire de l'Afrique équatoriale française, 1931, in French), and fromExternal Links:BBC Country Profiles, andBokassa's ruined palace in CAR(BBC), andBokassa Successor Says Dictator Killed Children in April Massacre(The New York Times), andFrench Equatorial Africa(World Statesmen). )1910The 'Federation of French Colonies' is formed byFrance. It groups together previously separate colonial entities in Central Africa which includeFrench Congo(founded 1882, andMiddle Congofrom 1903),French Gabon(created 1885),Upper Ubangi(formalised 1894),Upper Shari(established 1900),French Chad(formed 1900), andUbangi-Shari(founded 1903, orUbangi-Shari-Chadfrom 1906). Central Africa in 1897 was a land of uncertain, shifting borders, with small states expanding to incorporate previously stateless tribal societies (click or tap on map to view full sized)Around the same time, in the early 1900s, Fang migration into traditionalMpongwelands induces many of the Mpongwe to adopt urban life and become leaders within theFrenchcolonial structure and the later independentGabon. 1910 - 1917Martial Henri MerlinGov-general of FEA (AEF inFrench). Formerly in French Congo. 1908 - 1909Alfred MartineauActing governor-general. 1909 - 1910Charles Amédée RognonActing governor-general. 1910Adolphe CureauActing governor-general. 1910 - 1911Charles Amédée RognonActing governor-general for the second time. Died. 1911 - 1919The Treaty of Fez seesFrancecede a vast area of the Lobaye and Sangha basins to theGermanempire as its Neukameron colony in exchange for a smaller area of territory (which today falls within the borders ofChad). Following the conclusion of theFirst World War, France seizes back the territory it had ceded. By 1919, with the conclusion of the First World War, the African colonies found themselves being exploited for their resources more intensely than ever beforeThe entirety of 'French Equatorial Africa' is offered for quick and profitable exploitation by any private company that is willing to take a risk in exchange for a percentage of profits being placed in the French treasury (a programme which largely fails). The native population is hit hard by imported disease, as well as famine. 1911Édouard M B E Dubosc-TaretActing governor-general. 1911Charles Henri VergnesActing governor-general. 1912 - 1913Charles Henri VergnesActing governor-general for the second time. 1912Having fought the warriors ofDar al-Kutiin January 1911 and suffering a destructive raid in December, theFrenchdecide to resolve matters once and for all. On 17 December 1912, Captain Souclier captures Ouanda-Djallé and Sultan Kamoun seeks refuge in theSudan. Today's landlocked country of South Sudan has witnessed a twentieth century colonial period which was preceded by intense regional rivalries and clan state creation, notably by the Mahdists and the Zande peopleThe sultanate comes under direct French administration within the 'Federation of French Colonies' as part of their protectorate. The 'Circonscription de Dar el-Kouti' is created in place of the sultanate. That name is used for the last time between 1937 to 1946 as theDépartement du Dar el-Kouti. 1913Georges Virgile PouletActing governor-general. 1913 - 1914Frédéric EstèbeActing governor-general. 1917 - 1920Gabriel Louis AngoulvantGovernor-general of FEA. 1917Upon the death of its last formal ruler and the imprisonment under house arrest of his successor, Bozanga, the sultanate ofBangassouis suppressed by theFrench. The sultanate comes under direct French administration within 'French Equatorial Africa' as part of their protectorate. This photo postcard of 1910 shows a Banziri village on the banks of the Ubangi (Oubangui), part of the riverine Banziri territory along a two hundred kilometre-long coastline between the Mokwangay rapids and the mouth of the Ouaka (or Kouango) on both sides of the Ubangi, a very different life from that of their High Nile origins, with settlement taking place in Kouango in the sixteenth century1917 - 1918Frédéric EstèbeActing governor-general for the second time. 1918 - 1920Frédéric EstèbeActing governor-general for a third time. 1920Maurice Pierre LapaludActing governor-general. 1920 - 1923Jean Victor AugagneurGovernor-general of FEA. 1920The territory ofUbangi-Shariis reorganised within 'French Equatorial Africa', which also includes territory which today forms parts ofChad,Gabon, andRepublic of the Congo, as well asCentral African Republic(CAR). 1921 - 1996Jean Bedel Bokassa is born on 22 February 1921 in Bobangui (now withinCAR),Middle Congo. He dies on 3 November 1996 in Bangui, having replaced a newly independentCentral African Republicwith his own 'Central African Empire' (in 1976) and then having seen it fall apart (in 1979). Jean Bedel Bokassa, military ruler of Central African Republic between 1966-1976, emperor in 1976-1979, and exile for the rest of his life, dying in 19961923 - 1924Robert Paul Marie de GuiseActing governor-general of FEA. 1923The sultanate ofZémiois suppressed by theFrench. Presumably this is upon the death of Sultan Momi, but English-language sources are virtually non-existent, and available French-language sources are not readily forthcoming. The territory is drawn fully within 'French Equatorial Africa'. 1924Mattéo Mathieu Maurice AlfassaActing governor-general of FEA. 1924Robert Paul Marie de GuiseActing governor-general of FEA for the second time. 1924Mattéo Mathieu Maurice AlfassaActing governor-general of FEA for the second time. 1924 - 1934Raphaël Valentin Marius AntonettiGovernor-general of FEA. 1925Mattéo Mathieu Maurice AlfassaActing governor-general for a third time. 1927TheFrenchcolonial government in French Gabon which is part of 'French Equatorial Africa' extinguishes the state ofOrungu. Following this act the hereditary monarchy suffers the problem of not one but two pretenders. No dates are known for either of them, and the first even remains nameless as far as the historical record is concerned. Bantu-speakers entered southern Uganda probably by the end of the first millennium AD where they developed centralised kingdoms by the fifteenth or sixteenth century1927Marcel Alix Jean MarchessouActing governor-general. 1927Dieudonné François J M ResteActing governor-general. 1928TheKongo-Wara Rebellion- otherwise known as the 'War of the Hoe Handle' or theBaya War- breaks out in western Ubangi-Shari. The prime cause is the forced labour to which the natives have been subject, and the high cost in lives which results. It continues for several years, mostly within territory which today formsCAR. Francesuppresses news of the rebellion at home, even though it is the smallest of the anti-colonial uprisings of the inter-war period, being dwarfed by the larger Kongo rebellion. A forest village in Gabon in the nineteenth century, drawing of Thérond from a photograph taken by Houzé de l'Aulnoit, with the engraving being published inLe Tour du Monde, 18651929 - 1930Mattéo Mathieu Maurice AlfassaActing governor-general for a fourth time. 1930 - 1931Adolphe DeitteActing governor-general. 1932 - 1933Mattéo Mathieu Maurice AlfassaActing governor-general for a fifth time. 1934Marcel Alix Jean MarchessouActing governor-general of FEA for the second time. 1934 - 1935Georges Édouard Alexandre RenardGovernor-general of FEA. 1934The 'Federation of French Colonies' is replaced at the same time asUbangi-Shari-Chadis brought back into the fold, having been separated in 1916. This general reorganisation creates the greater 'French Colony' to replace the federation. 1935 - 1936Marcel Alix Jean MarchessouActing governor-general of FEA for a third time. 1936 - 1939Dieudonné François J M ResteGovernor-general of FEA (formerly acting in 1927). 1939Léon SolomiacActing governor-general of FEA. 1939 - 1940Pierre François BoissonGovernor-general of FEA. 1939Upon the death of its last sultan, theRafaïsultanate is suppressed by theFrench. The sultanate comes under direct French administration within 'French Equatorial Africa' although post-incorporation details appear to be thin on the ground. British and French colonial forces remained relatively insubstantial but enormously influential in Central Africa until well after the end of the Second World War, with British and Free French troops pictured here in 19411940Louis HussonActing governor-general. 1940Edgard de LarminatActing governor-general of FEA. 1940Marie Eugène Adolphe SicéActing governor-general of FEA. 1940 - 1944Adolphe Félix Sylvestre ÉbouéGovernor-general of FEA (acting to 15 Jul 1941). Died. 1941 - 1942Marie Eugène Adolphe SicéHigh commissioner of 'Free' French Africa (Aug-Jul). 1944 - 1946Ange Marie Charles André BayardelleGovernor-general of FEA (acting to 2 Oct 1944). 1944 - 1947A provisional government is established inFrancefollowing the liberation of Paris on 25 August 1944. During the existence of the provisional government, in 1943Lebanongains full independence from France, in 1945 France re-establishes its protectorate inVietnam(which lasts until 1954), andSyriagains independence in 1946. Change is also coming toFrench Sudan. This photo shows British or allied troops establishing a beachhead during the Battle of Madagascar - Vichy French control of the island was about to be replaced by British and then Free French control, heralding a seeming return to the status quo1946 - 1947Jean Louis Marie André SoucadauxActing governor-general of FEA (later full governor). 1947Laurent Elisée PéchouxActing governor-general of FEA. 1947Charles LuizetGovernor-general of FEA. Died. 1947 - 1948Jean Louis Marie André SoucadauxGovernor-general of FEA (acting to 15 Nov 1947). 1948 - 1951Bernard Cornut-GentilleGovernor-general of FEA. 1951 - 1958Paul Louis Gabriel ChauvetGovernor-general of FEA. High commissioner in 1957. 1958Pierre Auguste Joseph MessmerHigh commissioner of FEA. 1958'French Equatorial Africa' is dissolved as the republics become autonomous. This ends the 'French Colony' and replaces it in 1959 with the 'Union of Central Africa Republics'. After becoming newly-independent Central African Republic's first elected president, David Dacko (here seated, left, alongside President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi of Israel) took the country towards a dictatorship before being deposed, only to return to head a democratic government in 19791958 - 1960Yvon BourgesHigh commissioner of FEA. 1958 - 1960Paul Camille BordierUbangi-Shari high commissioner (CAR). 1960Full independence fromFranceis achieved. Dar al-Kuti's former ruling family remain prominent, holding positions of authority by 1974, but that ofBangassouseemingly fades into the background. Ubangi-Shari, which still consists of territory between the Ubangi and Chari rivers, forms the core of a new state which also absorbs the former territory of Bangassou, Dar al-Kuti,Rafaï, andZémio. The new state is to be known asCentral African Republic. Former French Congo becomesRepublic of the Congo, French Chad becomesChad, and French Gabon becomesGabon.