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- For the Community of Belgium, see French Community of Belgium
The French Community (French: 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 French colonies, possessed substantial autonomy, with France controlling only the currency, defense, foreign affairs and national security strategy.
When the Community was established, French leader de Gaulle specified that any country within it would eventually have the option of moving to complete independence. Apart from Guinea, which chose by referendum in 1958 not to join, all French-ruled territories in sub-Saharan Africa joined the new Community. They all obtained independence in 1960.
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