Rassemblement Démocratique Africain

The African Democratic collection ( Rassemblement Démocratique Africain French, abbreviation RDA) was a party in French West Africa and French Equatorial Africa.

Prehistory

After the Second World War, a new constitution for the Fourth Republic was elaborated in France. It should first be represented in the framework of the French Union in the National Assembly and the Senate all overseas possessions. The African possessions posted here its representatives to the two constitutional conventions elected in November 1945 and June 1946.

The first draft Constitution, which came to meet the demands of the African politician, was rejected in a referendum, the second, which occurred after a further referendum on 17 October 1946 in force provided for less say the colonies.

Foundation

One response was a meeting in Bamako in the former French Sudan, in which the RDA was established as a collective movement of the African territories of France in October 1946. Became president Felix Houphouet (later Houphouët -Boigny ), which was always confirmed in the following years despite tensions within the movement.

In the different territories of individual state associations were established, depending on the political situation, interest groups joined the umbrella organization of RDA or left him again.

The RDA initially worked with the Communist Party of France together, less for ideological reasons, but because the PCF to the demands of the Africans came to meet the most. Following the resignation of the CPF from the French Government, the RDA came under pressure from the authorities and was oriented in the subsequent period of moderate parties of the Fourth Republic. In October 1950, Houphouët -Boigny declared in the National Assembly to work with the PCF over.

Non-participants

Because of the collaboration between RDA and leaned Leopold Sedar Senghor KPF from Senegal at the request of his party friends of the socialist SFIO participation from. The Senegal Dakar, the capital of French West Africa, the RDA remained so largely closed. Otherwise, the RDA dominated the political scene and found most African parliamentarians in Paris as well as in the territorial assemblies.

End

Main point of contention between the individual colonies or their representatives was the issue of whether the areas should seek the independence of each for yourself or as a united federation. Wealthy areas such as Ivory Coast and Gabon rejected from a federation rather, the poorer countries would have preferred such a solution.

Another point of contention was the question of relations with France during the referendum on the Constitution of the Fifth Republic. During Sékou Touré of Guinea has rejected the Constitution and so became independent on October 2, 1958 voted in all other areas with Yes and thus to remain with France.

With the independence of the other areas during the year 1960, the RDA lost its importance as a common advocacy. The individual member parties have been preserved, mostly in their respective countries to single parties.

Prominent members

• Justin Ahomadegbé - Tomêtin, Sourou - Migan Apithy and Hubert Maga of Dahomey
• Félix Houphouët-Boigny of the Ivory Coast
• Hamani Diori from Niger
• Modibo Keïta from the French Sudan
• Léon M'ba from Gabon
• Ahmed Sékou Touré of Guinea
• Maurice Yaméogo from Upper Volta
• Fulbert Youlou from Congo-Brazzaville

• Politics (Africa)
• Historic Party ( France)
• French Colonial History ( Africa)