In 1932, the French colonial administration undertook a significant reorganization of its territories in West Africa, resulting in the division of the French Upper Volta. This region, initially established as a separate colony in 1919, faced numerous challenges in terms of governance due to its vastness and the diversity of its population. To better manage these challenges, the French authorities decided to dissolve Upper Volta and distribute its territories among the neighboring colonies of Ivory Coast, French Sudan, and Niger. This division was emblematic of the colonial strategy of administrative efficiency over cultural and historical considerations.

The partitioning took place on September 5, when sections of Upper Volta were assigned to the adjacent colonies. The northern parts of Upper Volta were absorbed into Niger, while the southwestern regions were incorporated into Ivory Coast, and much of the central and eastern territories went to French Sudan. This was not merely a bureaucratic adjustment but a reflection of the colonial powers’ interests in improving resource management and maintaining control over their territories. The British and French colonial administrations frequently employed such strategies to optimize their governance.

The impacts of this division were profound. The newly drawn boundaries did not align with ethnic or cultural divisions, leading to discontent among local populations. The administrative changes altered local governance structures significantly, leading to identity issues and challenges in tax collection, law enforcement, and even the management of local resources. Local economies were disrupted as communities found themselves separated from traditional trading partners. The dissolution of the French Upper Volta foreshadowed the eventual push for independence and the reshaping of national identities in West Africa in the subsequent decades.