SECTION B: Political and Constitutional Developments in West Africa and International Relations
Identify five debilitating effects of French colonial rule in French West African Colonies.
Explanation
Five Debilitating Effects of French Colonial Rule in French West African Colonies
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Suppression of Indigenous Political Systems: The French policy of Assimilation undermined traditional African governance structures, replacing them with French administrative systems. This disrupted indigenous leadership and weakened the ability of local rulers to govern effectively.
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Exploitation of Economic Resources: The French extracted raw materials like gold, cocoa, and cotton for the benefit of France, leaving the colonies economically dependent and underdeveloped. Infrastructure was built mainly to facilitate resource extraction, not local economic growth.
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Limited Educational and Social Development: Unlike British colonies that allowed some level of self-rule, the French strictly controlled education, producing a small elite class loyal to France while keeping the majority of the population illiterate and unskilled. This created a long-term developmental gap.
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Forced Labour and Heavy Taxation: The French imposed harsh forced labour policies (such as the corvée system), where Africans were required to work on colonial projects without pay. High taxation further worsened economic hardship, leading to widespread poverty and resentment.
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Fragmentation and Weak National Identity: The artificial boundaries drawn by the French disregarded ethnic and cultural identities, leading to divided societies with weak national consciousness. The continued influence of Francophone policies after independence further hindered regional integration.