Importance of the Brazzaville Conference of 1944 to Constitutional Development of French West Africa

General Charles De Gaulle called for the Brazzaville Conference of Colonial Governors in 1944. The main aim of the conference was to determine the future relationship between France and her colonies. In addition, the conference was to determine the direction of development for the colonies.

The following recommendations were made:

(i) It was agreed that the indigénat policyThis policy stated that West Africans could be arrested and detained for two years without trial by the French administrators. It was an obnoxious policy that received world condemnation. Indigénat is... More, labour and other obnoxious policies be stopped.

(ii) It also recommended greater autonomyAutonomy is the control or government of a country, organization, or group by itself rather than by others. More for the colonies. It recommended partial administrative decentralization of power.

(iii) It was agreed that the colonies would send their representatives to the first and second constituent Assemblies in Paris to draw up a new constitutionA constitution is a set of fundamental rules that determine how a country or state is run. More for France under her colonies.

(iv) Furthermore, French citizenship should be extended to all Africans.

(v) It also agreed that African culture and tradition should be recognized and respected.

(vi) It also recommended that each colony should have local assemblies or legislatureThe legislative branch of government is responsible for making laws within a country. Legislatures are made up of people called legislators who, in democracies, are elected by the country’s population More with African and French representatives.