On 30 January 1944 General Charles de Gaulle called a conference in Brazzaville, the capital of Moyen-Congo (Middle Congo) and the regional capital of Afrique Équatoriale Française (French Equatorial Africa), to discuss the future of France's African colonies. It was attended by Free France politicians and high ranking colonial officials. The resulting 'Brazzaville Declaration' called for the French empire to remain united. For the African colonies to establish semi-autonomous assemblies, that colonial citizens should have equal rights to those of France, and a vote for the French parliament. That public offices in the colonies should be filled as far as possible by local representatives, and that the exploitative nature of the relationship between France and its colonies be reduced.
De Gaulle, however, dismissed calls for complete independence of its African colonies.
