Entrenched chiefs enriched themselves and abused the peoples they were meant to guide.

Evidence

These motives did not bode well for advancing the cause of civilization as defined by the French. Once entrenched in office, the old elite often took advantage of the very peoples whom they were supposed to be guiding, and enriched themselves at their expense. This flagrant abuse of power was particularly true under Carde. During his administration, the 2,200 canton chiefs employed in West Africa became notorious for their corruption and excessive labor demands. Meanwhile, the councils and communes, deemed essential for educating these chiefs and for staying in touch with popular sentiment, had either never been organized or had served only to communicate the commandant’s wishes to the assembled notables. Indeed, as early as 1921, Merlin had admitted that the creation of communes was premature, and no effort was made to establish them in the 192o’s. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 719