French West Africa (Afrique Occidentale Francaise), a former federation of French colonial territories on the northwest coast of Africa, has an area of 1,831,079 sq. mi. (4,742,495 sq. km.) and a population of about 17 million. Capital: Dakar. The constituent territories were Mauritania, Senegal, Dahomey, French Sudan, Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Niger, French Guiana, and later on the mandated area of Togo. Peanuts, palm kemels, cocoa, coffee and bananas were exported. ,Prior to the mid-19th century, France, as the other European states, maintained establishments on the west coast of Africa for the purpose of trading in slaves and gum, but made no serious attempt to colonization. From 1854 onward, the coastal acquisition ended and organization and development began. French West Africa was formed in 1895 by grouping the several colonies under one administration (Dakar) while retaining a large measure of autonomy to each of the constituent territories. The inhabitants of French West Africa were formed in 1946. With the exception of French Guiana, all the colonies voted in 1958 to become the fully independent Republic of Guinea. The present-day independent states are members of the ?Union Monetaire Quest-Aficaine.?,, ,Also see West African States.,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Franc = 100 Centimes,, ,1 Unit = 5 Francs ,,