What are the features of the French Colonial Administration in Africa?

France introduced two policies in her territories in
French West Africa. They were the policy
of assimilation and the policy of association.

FEATURES OF THE
POLICY OF ASSIMILATION

•  Cultural   Assimilation: The administration employed the policy of assimilation which was meant to substitute the culture, language,
  religion, laws mode of dressing,
  etc. of the people of west Africa with that o( the French people.
•  Centralised
  Administration: France formed all its eight
  colonies into a federation with its headquarters at Dakar. At the head of the federation was a Governor General. At the head of
  each colony was a governor.
•  Direct
  Rule: France ruled the colonies directly, i.e. she
  did not make use of traditional institutions.
• No
  Recognition of Traditional Rulers: The French did not accord any respect for the
  African traditional rulers.
•  indigenant
  Policy: This was a policy which gave. French Administrators the right to imprison any African for two years without
  trial.
• Existence of French Personnel: Many French personnel were available in the
  colonies. Hence flew Africans were in the administration.
•  Education
  Was Restricted: Very few people had access
  to education in the French colonies. It was a deliberate policy of France to
  educate few Africans.
•  Africans were
  Divided into Citizens and Subject-Some Africans were accorded French
  citizenship while other: were called subjects.
•  Political
  Activities Were Not Encouraged: The French did not allow the formation of political parties and publication of independent newspapers.
•  Colonial Representation in the French National
  Assembly: Laws governing the., territories were made in the French National Assembly in Paris. However, Africans
  were represented in the
  assembly.
• The
  Policy of Loi Cadre: This policy put French west African territories on the path of self government