African Democratic Rally
Encyclopedia
The African Democratic Rally was a political party
in French West Africa
, led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny
. Founded in Bamako
in 1946, the RDA quickly became one of the most important forces for independence in the region. Initially a Pan-Africanist
movement, the RDA ceased to function as a Pan-African party as Houphouët-Boigny turned hostile towards the idea of African federalism. Splinter groups of the RDA remain active in the politics of Guinea
, Côte d'Ivoire
, Chad
, Niger
, Senegal
, and Burkina Faso
.
faced increasing resistance to their rule in West Africa
. Following negotiations in 1944 between Free France and colonial representatives, the French government issued the Brazzaville Declaration
. While insisting on French sovereignty, the document also granted the colonies semi-autonomous assemblies and the rights of full French citizens.
constitution allowed African representatives to set in the Paris's National Assembly. A number of nationalist parties came together to form the RDA at a congress in Bamako
on October 18–21, 1946. The call for the Bamako congress came from the GEC
in Dakar
.
Initially RDA was politically radical, with ties to the French Communist Party
(PCF). Under Houphouët-Boigny's leadership RDA turned increasingly moderate and pro-France
. The link to PCF was broken in 1951.
RDA ceased to function as a pan-African party as Houphouët-Boigny turned hostile towards the idea of African federalism. Many of its former sections still use RDA in combination with their own names.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in French West Africa
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
, led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny
Félix Houphouët-Boigny
Félix Houphouët-Boigny , affectionately called Papa Houphouët or Le Vieux, was the first President of Côte d'Ivoire. Originally a village chief, he worked as a doctor, an administrator of a plantation, and a union leader, before being elected to the French Parliament and serving in a number of...
. Founded in Bamako
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
in 1946, the RDA quickly became one of the most important forces for independence in the region. Initially a Pan-Africanist
Pan-Africanism
Pan-Africanism is a movement that seeks to unify African people or people living in Africa, into a "one African community". Differing types of Pan-Africanism seek different levels of economic, racial, social, or political unity...
movement, the RDA ceased to function as a Pan-African party as Houphouët-Boigny turned hostile towards the idea of African federalism. Splinter groups of the RDA remain active in the politics of Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
, Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
, Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, and Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
.
Background
In the 1940s, the FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
faced increasing resistance to their rule in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
. Following negotiations in 1944 between Free France and colonial representatives, the French government issued the Brazzaville Declaration
Brazzaville Conference of 1944
After the Fall of France during World War II, and the alignment of many West African French colonies with the Free French, Charles de Gaulle recognized the need to revise the relationship between France and its colonies in Africa...
. While insisting on French sovereignty, the document also granted the colonies semi-autonomous assemblies and the rights of full French citizens.
Formation and dominance
In 1946, the new Fourth RepublicFourth Republic
Fourth Republic may refer to:* French Fourth Republic * Fourth Republic of the Philippines * Fourth Republic of South Korea * The Fourth Republic of Niger...
constitution allowed African representatives to set in the Paris's National Assembly. A number of nationalist parties came together to form the RDA at a congress in Bamako
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
on October 18–21, 1946. The call for the Bamako congress came from the GEC
Communist Study Groups
Communist Study Groups , was a communist group in colonial French West Africa/French Equatorial Africa. GEC was founded in 1943, under the influence of the French Communist Party. GEC formed branches in the capital cities of the West African territories. GEC was primarily based amongst intellectuals...
in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
.
Initially RDA was politically radical, with ties to the French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
(PCF). Under Houphouët-Boigny's leadership RDA turned increasingly moderate and pro-France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The link to PCF was broken in 1951.
Sections of RDA included
- Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire
- Democratic Party of Guinea
- Senegalese Democratic UnionSenegalese Democratic UnionSenegalese Democratic Union was a political party in Senegal, founded in 1946 by the Communist Study Groups...
, later expelled and substituted by the Senegalese Popular MovementSenegalese Popular MovementSenegalese Popular Movement was a political party in Senegal. MPS was formed as the Senegalese section of the African Democratic Rally , following the expulsion of the Senegalese Democratic Union...
. - Sudanese Union-African Democratic RallySudanese Union-African Democratic RallyThe Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally is a Malian political party.The party was formed in 1945 by Mamdou Konaté and Modibo Keita, with the name Sudanese Bloc...
(French Soudan) - Chadian Progressive PartyChadian Progressive PartyThe Chadian Progressive Party was the first African political party created in Chad, active from 1947 to 1973...
- Voltaic Democratic Union
- Union of the Peoples of CameroonUnion of the Peoples of CameroonThe Union of the Peoples of Cameroon is a political party in Cameroon.-History:UPC was founded on April 10, 1948, at a meeting in the bar Chez Sierra in Bassa. 12 men assisted the founding meeting, including Charles Assalé, Léonard Bouli, and Guillaume Bagal. The majority of the participants were...
(expelled in 1950 for refusing the split with the French Communist PartyFrench Communist PartyThe French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
) - Nigerien Progressive Party
- Gabonese Mixed Movement
- Congolese Progressive PartyCongolese Progressive PartyThe Congolese Progressive Party was a political party in Congo-Brazzaville. It was the first Congolese political party , and the Congolese section of the African Democratic Rally . Until 1950 PPC was closely connected to the French Communist Party. The party was largely based amongst the Vili people...
(1946–1957) - Democratic Union for Defense of African Interests (1957-)
RDA ceased to function as a pan-African party as Houphouët-Boigny turned hostile towards the idea of African federalism. Many of its former sections still use RDA in combination with their own names.
Prominent Members
- Félix Houphouët-BoignyFélix Houphouët-BoignyFélix Houphouët-Boigny , affectionately called Papa Houphouët or Le Vieux, was the first President of Côte d'Ivoire. Originally a village chief, he worked as a doctor, an administrator of a plantation, and a union leader, before being elected to the French Parliament and serving in a number of...
from Côte d'IvoireCôte d'IvoireThe Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be... - Justin Ahomadegbé-TomêtinJustin Ahomadegbé-TomêtinJustin Ahomadegbé-Tomêtin was a Beninese politician most active when his country was known as Dahomey. He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what region in Dahomey they lived...
and Sourou-Migan ApithySourou-Migan ApithySourou-Migan Marcellin Joseph Apithy was a Beninese political figure most active when his country was known as Dahomey. He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what region in Dahomey they lived....
from BeninBeninBenin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located... - Modibo KeïtaModibo KeïtaModibo Keita ; was the first President of Mali and the Prime Minister of the Mali Federation. He espoused a form of African socialism.-Youth:...
from MaliMaliMali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with... - Gabriel LisetteGabriel LisetteGabriel Francisco Lisette was a Chadian politician that played a key-role in the decolonization of Chad.Of African descent, he was born at Portobelo in Panama on April 2, 1919. He became a French colonial administrator, and in this role was posted to Chad in 1946...
from ChadChadChad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west... - Léon M'baLéon M'baGabriel Léon M'ba was the first Prime Minister and President of Gabon. A member of the Fang ethnic group, M'ba was born into a relatively privileged village family. After studying at a seminary, he held a number of small jobs before entering the colonial administration as a customs agent...
from GabonGabonGabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west... - Ahmed Sékou TouréAhmed Sékou TouréAhmed Sékou Touré was an African political leader and President of Guinea from 1958 to his death in 1984...
from GuineaGuineaGuinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures... - Maurice YaméogoMaurice YaméogoMaurice Yaméogo was the first President of the Republic of Upper Volta, now called Burkina Faso. He proclaimed the independence of the country on August 5, 1960 and also tried to create a union between Cote d'Ivoire and Upper-Volta...
from Burkina FasoBurkina FasoBurkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated... - Fulbert YoulouFulbert YoulouAbbé Fulbert Youlou was a Brazzaville-Congolese Roman Catholic priest, nationalist leader and politician.-Early life:...
from Moyen-Congo