From 20th century
West Africa
The Conseil de l’Entente was formed in May 1959 as a regional association of former French West African territories. Dominated by Ivory Coast, it included Dahomey, Upper Volta, and Niger. Rather than pursuing African political unity, it prioritized preserving the sovereignty of individual states through a loose economic or political association, and it later became an institutional ancestor of UAM and OCAM.
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The Story
The Conseil de l’Entente was created in May 1959 during the transfer of power from French colonial rule. It brought together Ivory Coast, Dahomey, Upper Volta, and Niger, making it the principal wider grouping of former French West African territories to establish itself securely during this period.
Its political orientation differed sharply from projects seeking African or West African unity. The association was dominated by Ivory Coast and was dedicated to preserving the sovereignty of its individual members. Economic or political cooperation was acceptable, but only in a loose form that would not subordinate the participating states to a stronger federation.
The Conseil de l’Entente consequently represented a rival path to regionalism. Its significance lay less in constructing a unified political community than in institutionalizing intergovernmental cooperation among states determined to retain their autonomy. The passage identifies it as an ancestor of the later UAM and OCAM groupings.
From 20th century
West Africa
The Conseil de l’Entente was formed in May 1959 as a regional association of former French West African territories. Dominated by Ivory Coast, it included Dahomey, Upper Volta, and Niger. Rather than pursuing African political unity, it prioritized preserving the sovereignty of individual states through a loose economic or political association, and it later became an institutional ancestor of UAM and OCAM.
Continue exploring
The Story
The Conseil de l’Entente was created in May 1959 during the transfer of power from French colonial rule. It brought together Ivory Coast, Dahomey, Upper Volta, and Niger, making it the principal wider grouping of former French West African territories to establish itself securely during this period.
Its political orientation differed sharply from projects seeking African or West African unity. The association was dominated by Ivory Coast and was dedicated to preserving the sovereignty of its individual members. Economic or political cooperation was acceptable, but only in a loose form that would not subordinate the participating states to a stronger federation.
The Conseil de l’Entente consequently represented a rival path to regionalism. Its significance lay less in constructing a unified political community than in institutionalizing intergovernmental cooperation among states determined to retain their autonomy. The passage identifies it as an ancestor of the later UAM and OCAM groupings.
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