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35-633: Fort Archambault (Sarh) was founded by the colonial French Equatorial Africa , for returnees from the labour camps associated with the construction of the Congo-Ocean Railway . A significantly large textiles complex was constructed by the French in Sarh in 1967. The residents of Sarh suffered a meningococcal meningitis epidemic in 1990. Sarh is located on the Chari River , 350 miles (560 km) southeast of

70-650: A French League of Nations mandate not integrated into the AEF. French Equatorial Africa, especially the region of Ubangi-Shari , had a similar concession system as the Congo Free State and similar atrocities were also committed there. Writer André Gide traveled to Ubangi-Shari and was told by inhabitants about atrocities including mutilations, dismemberments, executions, the burning of children, and villagers being forcefully bound to large beams and made to walk until dropping from exhaustion and thirst. Gide's book Travels in

105-469: A federation of French colonies like French West Africa . That year, however, the AEF became a unitary entity, its constituent colonies becoming known as regions, and later became known as territories in 1937. There was a single budget for the unified colony; prior to unification, each member had had its own finances. As of 1942, the AEF was administered by a governor-general, who had "the supreme direction of all services, both civil and military." However,

140-449: A few thorny shrubs; in the center lay the domain of the savannahs , where millet , peanuts and cassava were grown; finally to the south were the humid tropical forests , from which various species such as ebony and okoumé were taken. In the coastal regions, vanilla , cocoa and coffee trees were grown. French Equatorial Africa was bounded by British Nigeria , French West Africa , Italian Libya , Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and

175-546: A little less than an eighth of Africa, across modern day Central African Republic , Republic of Chad , Republic of the Congo , Republic of Gabon , and most of Cameroon , the greater part of French Equatorial Africa extended over a granite plateau , framed by the Tibesti , Ouadaï , and Fertit massifs to the northeast, Darfur to the east and the Crystal mountains and Mayombe in

210-459: Is 34.9 °C (94.8 °F), while the average annual low temperature is 20.9 °C (69.6 °F). The hottest time of year is from March to May, just before the wet season starts. March has the highest average high at 39.1 °C (102.4 °F), while the highest average low is 24.7 °C (76.5 °F) in April. August has the lowest average high at 30.6 °C (87.1 °F), while December has

245-487: Is home to various educational institutions: Lycées − High schools include: Sarh is twinned with: French Equatorial Africa French Equatorial Africa (French: Afrique équatoriale française , or AEF ) was a federation of French colonial territories in Equatorial Africa which consisted of Gabon , French Congo , Ubangi-Shari , and Chad . It existed from 1910 to 1958 and its administration

280-404: Is the most for any month. Humidity is much higher in the wet season than the dry season, with February having a humidity at 29% and August having a humidity at 82%. Sarh receives 2737.3 hours of sunshine annually on average, with the sunshine being distributed fairly evenly across the year, although it is lower during the wet season. December and January receive the most sunshine, while July receives

315-515: The Belgian Congo . To the west, it bordered the Atlantic Ocean . Territories : The postal administrations of the four territories were separate until 1936, each issuing its own stamps. In that year, stamps of Gabon and Middle Congo were overprinted AFRIQUE / ÉQUATORIALE / FRANÇAISE . A definitive series for the colony followed in 1937, featuring local scenes and key French figures in

350-618: The French Community , the federation was dissolved. In 1959 the new republics formed an interim association called the Union of Central African Republics, before becoming fully independent in August 1960. French Equatorial Africa began with the concept of association, which was implemented through treaties promising French protection by the Italian-French explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza during

385-416: The 1950s, with the last being the omnibus Human Rights issue on 10 December 1958. 4°16′00″S 15°17′00″E  /  4.2667°S 15.2833°E  / -4.2667; 15.2833 Ubangi-Shari 7°N 20°E  /  7°N 20°E  / 7; 20 Ubangi-Shari ( French : Oubangui-Chari ) was a French colony in central Africa, a part of French Equatorial Africa . It

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420-476: The African people. Additionally, France held complete control over diplomacy, defense, and politics. Under the unified colony, three of the constituent territories, Chad , Gabon , and Ubangi-Shari , were administered by a governor, while Moyen-Congo was under the purview of the governor-general. Each had a council of local interests ( Conseil des Intérêts Locaux ) similar to the council of administration. Locally,

455-678: The Congo , published in 1927, was fiercely critical of the system of the concession companies in French Equatorial Africa. The book had an important impact on the anti-colonialist movement in France. The number of victims under the French concession system in Ubangi-Shari and other parts of French Equatorial Africa remains unknown. Adam Hochschild estimates a population decrease of half in the French Congo and Gabon, similar to his estimate of

490-405: The French defeat of Abbas II of Egypt , who had claimed the area. On 11 February 1906, this colony merged with the French settlements around Lake Chad and became the Ubangi-Shari territory of Ubangi-Shari-Chad ( Oubangui-Chari-Tchad ). In 1909 , it received the administration over the sultanates of Zemio and Rafai from the Belgian Congo . On 15 January 1910, this administration

525-550: The capital city N'Djamena . It was named after the Sara people of southern Chad. It is the third largest city in Chad, after N'Djamena and Moundou . Like other parts of southern Chad and the East Sudanian savanna , Sarh has a typical tropical savanna climate ( Köppen Aw ), with a wet season and a dry season and the temperature being hot year-round. The average annual high temperature

560-411: The colony, "whilst the governor-general fills in minor details and penalties." The governor-general was assisted by a consultative council of administration ( Conseil d'Administration ) composed of important local officials and some members, both African and European, elected indirectly. All major administration positions were appointed by French government and were not accountable to officials elected by

595-657: The colony. During World War II , it remained loyal to Vichy France from 16 June to 29 August 1940, before being taken by the Free French . It was granted autonomy as the Central African Republic on 1 December 1958, and independence under the same name on 13 August 1960. Ubangi-Shari had a similar concession system as the Congo Free State and similar atrocities were also committed there. French author and Nobel laureate André Gide travelled to Ubangi-Shari and

630-487: The difference in numbers between administrators and the local populace made it difficult for the French to exercise power outside of their headquarters without voluntary or involuntary indigenous cooperation. Additionally, the governor-general's power was limited in practice by France's centralizing colonial policy. "Most important legislation is enacted in Paris," wrote the authors of the 1942 British naval intelligence handbook for

665-401: The exploitation of natural resources like ivory and rubber , rather than sustainable investment. Private companies implemented heavy taxation with little to no pay and cruel treatment towards workers and the local communities. In 1908 French Equatorial Africa was divided into four colonies in hopes of strengthening French authority within the region. Until 1934, French Equatorial Africa was

700-465: The formation of the colony, with various color and value changes each year through 1940. The 1937 series was overprinted AFRIQUE FRANÇAISE / LIBRE or just LIBRE in 1940 by the Free French, and in 1941 they issued a series depicting a phoenix rising from the flames. A new definitive series, featuring local scenery and people, was issued in 1946, and another twenty-odd stamps came out during

735-518: The least. Sarh is now a major transport hub. It is served by the Sarh Airport ( IATA airport code SRH). It is a center for the cotton industry, due to its warm and seasonally wet climate. It is also an important center for commercial fishing in the Chari River . The city is known as a center of nightlife in the region. Attractions in the city include the Sarh National Museum. Sarh

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770-456: The lowest average low at 16.4 °C (61.5 °F). Sarh receives 969.3 millimetres (38.16 in) of rain over 86 precipitation days, with a distinct wet and dry season like most tropical savanna climates. December receives no precipitation at all, with almost no rain falling from November to March. August, the wettest month, receives 243.7 millimetres (9.59 in) of rainfall on average. August also has 18 precipitation days on average, which

805-405: The mid-1800s, who convinced indigenous communities to cooperate with the French in exchange for greater trade opportunities. This association eventually led to French indirect rule in the region. However, France's attempts at indirect rule faced consistent resistance from local leaders. The AEF was perceived by France as an unstable colony. Therefore, France granted private companies contracts for

840-512: The outpost Bangi at the head of navigation on the Ubangi . The Upper Ubangi was established as part of the French Congo on 9 December 1891. Despite a France-Congo Free State convention establishing a border around the 4th parallel , the area was contested from 1892 to 1895 with the Congo Free State , which claimed the region as its territory of Ubangi-Bomu ( Oubangui-Bomou ). The Upper Ubangi

875-516: The population decline in the Congo Free State. In French Equatorial Africa, the French authorities long tolerated indigenous slavery, but finally acted against the slave trade of the Sultan of Dar Kuti in 1908, and took action against his slave raids in 1911, declaring the slaves in Dar al Kuti free. During the late 1920s and early 1930s an anti-colonial movement Société Amicale des Originaires de l'A.E.F.

910-511: The southwest. Two basins occupied the central and southern parts of the territory: the basin of Chad , a former inland sea of which Lake Chad is a remnant, and the basin of Congo , traversed by the river of the same name and its main tributaries ( Oubangui River , Sangha River , and Alima River ). A coastal plain stretched from mainland Spanish Guinea (now Equatorial Guinea ) to the Congo River . The highest point in French Equatorial Africa

945-635: The strategic centre of Free French activities in Africa. Félix Eboué was installed as Governor-General of AEF. A separate administrative structure was established under the auspices of Free French Africa grouping both AEF and Cameroun. Under the Fourth Republic (1946–58), the federation was represented in the French parliament . When the territories voted in the September 1958 referendum to become autonomous within

980-484: The territories were subdivided into départements and subdivisions overseen by appointed officials. The only municipalities were the capitals of the territories, which were classified as communes mixtes as opposed to Senegal's communes de plein exercice , which had democratically elected councils. Although these municipalities possessed certain powers of local self-government, their mayors and councils—which included African representatives—were appointed. Accounting for

1015-423: Was Mount Emi Koussi (3,415 meters) in Tibesti . Due to the very size of the territory, the climate varied extremely from one point to another, going from a particularly arid Saharan climate in the north to a humid tropical climate in the southern part. The vegetation was affected by these differences: in the north, the virtual absence of rain made it nearly impossible for vegetation to develop, apart from

1050-549: Was a separate colony from 13 July 1894 until 10 December 1899, at which time it was folded back into the French Congo. The Upper Shari region was established as part of the French Congo on 5 September 1900. That same year the Company of the Upper Ubangi Sultanates took over 140,000 km of Upper Ubangi as a concession . The territories were united as the separate colony of Ubangi-Shari on 29 December 1903, following

1085-673: Was based in Brazzaville . Established in 1910, the Federation contained four colonial possessions: French Gabon , French Congo , Ubangi-Shari and French Chad . The Governor-General was based in Brazzaville with deputies in each territory. In 1911, France ceded parts of the territory to German Kamerun as a result of the Agadir Crisis . The territory was returned after Germany's defeat in World War I , while most of Cameroon proper became

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1120-555: Was established by André Matsoua , seeking French citizenship for the territory's inhabitants. During World War II , French Cameroun and the entirety of the AEF except for Gabon rallied to the Free French Forces in August 1940, Gabon instead remained loyal to Vichy France until 12 November 1940 when the Vichy administration withdrew following the Battle of Gabon . The federation became

1155-458: Was merged with French Congo and Gabon as the Ubangi-Shari area of French Equatorial Africa (FEA). On 12 April 1916, it again became the separate colony of Ubangi-Shari, but in 1920 lost the territory around Lake Chad, and on 30 June 1934, was again folded into FEA. As a part of FEA, it was declared an overseas territory on 31 December 1937. Between 1915 and 1931, stamps were overprinted for use in Ubangi-Shari, and later specially printed for

1190-473: Was named after the Ubangi and Chari rivers along which it was colonised. It was established on 29 December 1903, from the Upper Ubangi ( Haut-Oubangui ) and Upper Shari ( Haut-Chari ) territories of the French Congo ; renamed the Central African Republic (CAR) on 1 December 1958; and received independence on 13 August 1960. French activity in the area began in 1889 with the establishment of

1225-408: Was told by inhabitants about atrocities including mutilations , dismemberments , executions , the burning of children, and villagers being forcefully bound to large beams and made to walk until dropping from exhaustion and thirst. The book "Travels to Congo" by Gide, published in 1927 describes the horrors of the concession companies in French Equatorial Africa. The book had an important impact on

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