- French Community
Infobox Former International Organization
native_name = Communauté française
conventional_long_name = French Community
common_name = French Community
_noautocat = yes
continent = Africa
era = Cold War
status = Confederation
status_text =
empire =
year_start = 1958
year_end = 1960
event_start = Fifth Republic
date_start = October 5
event_end = Decolonization
date_end = |
p1 = French Union
flag_p1 = Flag of France.svg
s1 = France
flag_s1 = Flag of France.svg
symbol = Coat of arms of France
image_map_caption = |
capital = Paris
national_motto = Liberté, égalité, fraternité
(lang_fr|Liberty, equality, brotherhood)
national_anthem = La Marseillaise
common_languages = French
currency =French franc CFA franc CFP franc The French Community ( _fr. Communauté française) was the political entity which replaced in 1958 the
French Union , which in turn was the descendant of the French colonial empire following the Second World War. It is included in the 1958 Constitution. Member territories, former Frenchcolonies , possessed substantial autonomy, with France controlling only the currency, defense, foreign affairs and national security strategy.When the Community was established, French leader
Charles de Gaulle specified that any country within it would eventually have the option of moving to complete independence. Apart fromGuinea , which chose byreferendum in 1958 not to join, all French-ruled territories insub-Saharan Africa joined the new Community. They all obtained independence in 1960.See also
*
Francophonie
*Colonialism anddecolonization
*French Union External links
*fr icon [http://cartoflash.free.fr/motcle/pages/Communautfr.htm Communauté française]
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