Africa French Speaking Countries

The French language emerged as an international language during the Middle Ages, thanks to the influence of the Kingdom of France. From the 17th century onward, it replaced Latin as the lingua franca of educated Europe, and became the primary language of diplomacy and the European Court in the 18th century. Most French-speaking countries were originally French colonies. Indeed, French colonialism spread the French language to many regions in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Quebec region of Canada was a French colony from 1534 to 1760. However, a series of wars caused France to lose most of its colonies in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

A second French colonial empire took shape during the 19th century, beginning with the Arab conquest. At the end of the 19th century, France controlled Senegal, Ivory Coast, the Republics of Congo, and Mali, all of which continue to speak French today. Most French colonies gained their independence following World War I, but France continued to be influential in Africa until the late 1960s, and most former French colonies still use French as their primary language.

(source: https://www.lingoda.com/fr/content/pays-francophones)