ABSTRACT
Francophone African states, whose populations had experienced a lack of freedom, mismanagement of resources, corruption, and oppression at the hands of one-party regimes, began to think that beneficial changes might be possible in their countries as well. Prior to the 1870s French possessions in West and Central Africa were limited to several offshore islands and coastal fringes of commercial or strategic value. Under a system of mainly direct rule, Africans, often traditional rulers, became agents for the transmission of French commands to their African subjects and in time became Western-educated subordinates. In order to promote the more rapid advancement of its African territories, France undertook a much larger role in their economic development through planning and public investment. France continued to provide Africa with industrial goods under near monopolistic conditions and to restrict local manufactures to foodstuffs, beverages, and household items.
