French Colonies in Africa Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Following the decay of the Ottoman Empire, the French captured Algiers in 1830 and colonized Algeria. In North Africa, they colonized Tunisia in 1881 and Morocco in 1912.

In West Africa, France colonized Senegal in 1677, Ivory Coast in 1843, Dahomey (Benin) in 1883, French Sudan (Mali) in 1883, French Guinea (Guinea) in 1891, Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) in 1896, Niger and Mauritania in 1902. Former German colony Togo was ceded to France in 1918 after WWI.

In Equatorial Africa, they colonized Gabon in 1839, French Congo (Republic of Congo) in 1875, Chad in 1900 and Central African Republic in 1905. After WWI, Germany ceded French Cameroon (Cameroon) to France.

In East Africa, Madagascar was colonized in 1896, French Somaliland (Djibouti) in 1862. Comoros located in Indian Ocean was taken in 1866.

After WWII, Morocco and Tunisia were the first two nations to declare independence in March 1956.

In 1960, during the Year of Africa, 15 countries gained independence: Senegal (January), Senegal (April), Togo (April), Madagascar (June), Benin (August), Niger (August), Burkina Faso (August), Ivory Coast (August), Chad (August), Central African Republic (August), Republic of Congo (August), Gabon (August), Mali (September), Guinea (October) and Mauritania (November).

France ruled Algeria for 132 years starting from 1830. From 1954 to 1962, the Algerian National Liberation Front fought against the French for independence. In 1962, the Evian Accords were signed in March. The treaty marked the end of the war and Algeria achieved independence on July 3.

Comoros gained independence in July 1975, followed by Djibouti, the last African nation to declare independence from France in June 1977.