[3] On 31 January 1956, in response to the Algerian War, the system changed, abandoning assimilation in favour of autonomy, allowing territories to develop their own local government and eventually gain their independence.

According to Louisa Rice, the increase in the number of African students being educated in France following the Union's formation resulted in a realisation among them of the contradiction between the colonial narrative of equality and reality, thus heightening resistance to its supposedly egalitarian institutions.

[12] A concrete example of this resistance occurred on Bastille Day 1952, when a group of West African students returning home by ship were excluded from celebrations due to them travelling in third class.

Indeed, according to Peo Hansen and Stefan Jonsson, at the genesis of the EEC, the integration of Africa into the economic bloc was an important strategic goal for its architects and supporters.

[13] One of these supporters, French Foreign Minister Christian Pineau, said in 1957 that the continued development of Africa by Europe would turn the continent into "an essential factor in world politics", and the alleviation of poverty would help to ward off communist influence.

For instance, Houphouet-Boigny wrote in 1957 that by "relinquish[ing] a part of their sovereignty", European countries would bring about "a more fully elaborated form of civilization which is more advantageous for their peoples" that goes beyond backward nationalism.

[8] Senghor echoes this view, arguing that "it would be pointless to cultivate particularism in Africa", and that instead there should be a goal to remove borders entirely, forming a large economic/political bloc.

All major political parties in each respective country, except two in Guinea and Niger, supported a yes vote in the 1958 constitutional referendum, seeking a looser form of autonomy rather than the system of close relations dominated by French influence.

Any crockery, medical equipment or documents that could not be carried were also destroyed and over 3,000 French civil servants and army health officials left the country.

This only reinforced anti colonial sentiment inside of Guinea, and Ahmed Sékou Touré would continue to urge other African nations to declare independence.

Notable opposing forces were the French Communist Party as well as a smaller section of socialists that included the future President of France, François Mitterrand.