It provided a political and territorial base for Free France and strengthened General Charles de Gaulle's international position.

During the Second World War, following the Appeal of 18 June, 1940, general Charles de Gaulle called for the continuation of the fight with the hopes of relying on the vast size of the French empire and its many colonies in Africa.

The commander-in-chief of the French forces in North Africa, Charles Noguès, eventually gave up the fight after previously giving speeches showing his desire to continue.

After giving in to the Vichy regime, and supporting Pétain, French West Africa also gave in after losing the Battle of Dakar.

And on 26 August 1940 with the support of Colonel Marchand and Henri Laurentie, he officially proclaimed that Chad was a part of Free France.

[4] While Brazzaville was the capital of Free French Africa, Charles De Gaulle created the Empire Defense Council on 27 October 1940, with the goal of dealing with “the general conduct of war for the liberation of the country”.

It was also in Brazzaville that De Gaulle instituted the Order of Liberation on 16 November 1940, and gave secret instructions to the colonel Leclerc of the 2nd Armed division.

Initially, the administration of the territories retained the previous functions before engaging in a series of fundamental reforms which sought for policies based on association instead of assimilation.

Trade unions were reauthorized in Free French Africa in 1943, and this allowed victims of administrative injustices to have their voices heard.

Charles de Gaulle wanted to reward the African men who fought for free France with Cross of Liberation medals.

[5] Allied air force planes arrived disassembled and packed in crates, were rebuilt at RAF Takoradi in the British Gold Coast colony, and transited through Chad, where they were able to stop at the new Fort Lamy airfield, before reaching the Middle East theatre of operations.

It is comparatively richer, with considerable and varied production, including citrus, cocoa, wood palm and various other resources.

While Free French Africa made significant economic contributions, it is mainly traders and administrative officials that benefited from the returns.