France’s Colonial Legacy: From Foreign Control to African Resistance

Some countries may have ended colonisation on paper, but not in practice.

France ruled over much of West Africa for decades. And even after these nations gained independence, the influence didn’t disappear. It just changed form. The countries may have new flags and leaders now, but many systems, relationships, and pressures are still shaped by the past.

Today, countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are no longer staying silent. They are breaking away—not just from foreign troops, but from decades of political and economic control. Their alliance is about more than defence. It’s a bold decision to take full control over their own future.

But to understand why this moment is so powerful, we have to go back. Way back. To before the colonisers ever arrived.

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A Broader View of French Colonial Power

France’s first overseas colonies began in the early 1600s. They built trading posts in what is now Canada and the Caribbean. They sent ships to trade fur, sugar, and tobacco. But these early efforts were smaller than those of other empires.

By the late 19th century, France rebuilt its empire, especially in Africa and Asia. The empire covered over 13.5 million km² of native land, making it the second largest residence-based empire after Britain.

Why expand? France wanted raw materials like cotton, coffee, rubber, and gold. Then it built railways and ports to send goods home. It also claimed this was part of its “civilising mission”—the idea that French culture and language were superior.

Yet real power stayed with those in Paris.

Pre-Colonial West Africa Was Independent and Complex

Before the French, West Africa was not a blank slate. It was full of organised kingdoms, trade routes, and strong leadership. There were well-organized kingdoms, trading networks, and authoritative rulers everywhere. Both the Mali and Songhai empires, which flourished from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries, were powerful, culturally significant, and famously wealthy. Educational institutions, libraries, and religious academies were common in Timbuktu and similar cities.

Ivory, salt, and gold were the commodities exchanged. Communities had their flaws, but overall, they functioned. Justice, taxation, and government were all handled at the regional level. No one from the outside could influence the decisions made by the monarch, council, or tribe elders.

So, before colonization, West Africa was effectively running its government.

The Takeover Begins with The French Colonial Rule

France invaded Algeria in 1830. The conquest was violent and brutal. Entire villages were destroyed. At one-point, French General Bugeaud used “scorched‑earth” tactics. Algerian leader Emir Abdelkader fought fiercely from 1832 to 1847.

Between the 1880s and early 1900s, French armies took control of what became French West Africa. This included modern Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and others. They created the "système de l’Exclusif"—a system where colonies could only trade with France. Everything else was banned.

The goal wasn’t to help Africa. It was to take what France wanted—gold, crops, land, and labour. France ruled using a system known as direct rule, where it took complete control over politics, education, and trade. French officials replaced local leaders. French laws replaced traditional ones.

People were forced to speak French, follow French customs, and pledge loyalty to France. Schools taught French history, not African history. Local industries were often shut down in favour of exporting raw materials to Europe.

In the name of “civilising” the people, France stripped away African identity and power.

Forced Labour and Resource Extraction

One of the harshest aspects of colonial rule was forced labour. Africans were made to build roads, harvest crops, and dig mines without fair pay or any choice. In some areas, failure to meet labour quotas led to beatings, jail, or worse.

Resources like cotton, uranium, cocoa, and timber were shipped to France. Local economies were reshaped to serve France’s needs. If people farmed, it was to grow exports for French factories, not food for local use.

Mali, for example, was rich in gold. Niger had uranium, a key element used in nuclear energy. Burkina Faso produced valuable cotton. France took it all. These countries were treated like suppliers, not partners.

Cultural Suppression

France also attacked the local culture. African religions, languages, and traditions were seen as inferior. Children were punished for speaking their native languages in school. Islamic schools were either shut down or made to follow French rules.

The colonial government saw French language and culture as superior. The goal was to make Africans more “French”—to think, speak, and act like Europeans.

But this came at the cost of their identity, history, and dignity.

French Influence Continued Long After Independence

By the 1960s, most French colonies in Africa had won independence. New flags were raised. New leaders were elected. But true freedom didn’t fully come.

France kept its influence alive through systems that are now called neocolonialism. It’s a term that means control without direct rule.

Let’s look at how this played out.

1. The CFA Franc

France created a currency called the CFA franc in 1945. Many African countries still use it today. But France controls this money. Until recently, it decided its exchange rate and held half of these countries’ foreign reserves in French banks.

This made it hard for African nations to control their own economies. Even their national budgets were reviewed by French institutions.

2. French Military Presence

France still has military bases in many former colonies. French troops have operated in Mali, Niger, Chad, and other countries under the claim of fighting terrorism or maintaining order.

But locals began to ask: Why is France still here? Why are they making decisions about our land and security?

In Mali and Burkina Faso, people held protests demanding the exit of French troops. They felt that France’s presence made things worse, not better.

3. Control Over Natural Resources

Even after independence, French companies continued to control key industries in West Africa.

In Niger, a French state-owned company-controlled uranium mining, even though most of the population lacked electricity. In Côte d’Ivoire, French businesses dominated cocoa exports. In Senegal, French fishing companies depleted waters that once fed local families.

So even without direct rule, France continued to benefit from African resources.

Lasting Influence on Former Colonies

Now let’s look more broadly at how French colonisation affected not just Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—but all the African countries once under French control.

• Education

Education strategies in France supplanted more conventional models. Many nations that were once colonies still use French as their primary language of instruction today. The result is that kids are exposed to a language that might not be spoken in their homes.

Because of this, a gap opens up. French is a language that many youngsters find difficult to master. Additionally, it threatens the extinction of African languages.

• Government and Legal Systems

French civil law is the foundation of the legal systems of a number of these nations. Local culture and needs were not taken into account while drafting several laws. On the contrary, they maintained their colonial state.

The French system of government was also adopted, even though it did not conform to the local culture.

• Economic Dependency

Many African countries that were once colonized by France trade more with France than their African neighbors. As a result, they remain economically dependent on France.

In addition, France had a say in who received funding, loans, or investments. More assistance was typically shown to leaders who adhered to French objectives.

Those who refused were isolated or removed.

• Political Interference

France is under scrutiny for allegedly assisting in the installation or removal of African presidents. On many occasions, it supported coups or exerted pressure on regimes. This made it tough for African nations to make their own political paths.

Cultural Identity Loss

French colonization pushed local cultures to the side and praised French practices as better. Many people felt estranged from their heritage because of this. The indigenous people's traditional dress, rituals, and languages were either supplanted or infused with French elements. Many groups are still fighting for recognition of their heritage today.

The Rise of Resistance

By the 2000s, frustration grew. People saw wealth flowing out of the country, while poverty stayed. They noticed that their leaders were tied to France. They saw foreign troops still here.

Young people started protesting. They asked tough questions:

1. Why do we use the CFA franc?

2. Why are troops based here?

3. Why are we still ruled by old laws?

Leaders rose who promised change. They spoke against corruption and neo‑colonial control. Then they acted. And they took real action.

The Alliance of Sahel States Marks a Shift Toward Full Sovereignty

Africa's Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso joined together in 2023 to form the Alliance of Sahel States. It wasn't just a deal between the troops. It was a step toward independence for everyone.

They got rid of the French troops. They stopped the media supported by France. They ended the agreements about the troops. They started to talk about new currencies, trade strategies, and working together in the area.

These countries made this deal to show that they were no longer going to be quiet. They were ready to build a future where they respected each other and were truly independent.

The union also shows that there is a growing sense of Pan-Africanism. More African countries are helping each other, sharing resources, and asking other countries to treat them fairly.

What Comes Next?

France’s colonial era was long and vital. It shaped borders, laws, languages, and economies. Its effects are still here. But West Africa is pushing back.

The new alliance shows that change is happening. People are fighting for independence all over again—this time from money, laws, and foreign influence.

The path forward won’t be easy. But these nations are choosing to lead their own story. Their alliance is proof. The past still matters. But the future is theirs to write.