ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role played by former colonial soldiers of the French empire – Africans who had served in the French army – in the building of the national armed forces and postcolonial political systems in Guinea, Ivory Coast and Upper Volta from 1958 to 1973. Peaceful transition meant that colonial soldiers, like the military bases and arms, were transferred to the newly formed national armies. Colonial soldiers often came from the most disadvantaged rural groups, whilst politicians rose from the small educated elite. The transfer from colonial coercive structures to national armed forces provided challenges to postcolonial governments. In contrast to Guinea and Ivory Coast, the Voltaic authorities had a more positive attitude towards colonial soldiers, regardless of whether they were transferred to the national army or whether they took on civilian professions. Despite being part of the same colonial unit, French West Africa, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Upper Volta walked very different roads towards independence.
