French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in West Africa from 1895 to 1960. It included present-day countries such as Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, and Togo. The region was governed by France and played a significant role in the French colonial empire. The federation was established to streamline administration and economic development in the region. It was characterized by the extraction of resources and the introduction of French culture and language. Following World War II, the territories began to seek independence, leading to the eventual dissolution of French West Africa in 1960.