African Democratic Rally

African Democratic Rally

The African Democratic Rally ( _fr. Rassemblement Démocratique Africain) 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.

Background

In the 1940s, the French 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.

Formation and dominance

In 1946, the new Fourth Republic 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 1955.

Sections of RDA included:
* Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire
* Democratic Party of Guinea
* Senegalese Democratic Union, later expelled and substituted by the Senegalese Popular Movement.
* Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally (French Soudan)
* Chadian Progressive Party
* Voltaic Democratic Union
* Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (expelled in 1950 for refusing the split with the French Communist Party)
* Nigerien Progressive Party
* Congolese Progressive Party

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-Boigny from Côte d'Ivoire
* Justin Ahomadegbé-Tomêtin and Sourou-Migan Apithy from Benin
* Modibo Keïta from Mali
* Léon M'ba from Gabon
* Ahmed Sékou Touré from Guinea
* Maurice Yaméogo from Burkina Faso
* Fulbert Youlou from Congo-Brazzaville

References

*Davidson, Basil. "Africa in History". New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.


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