Introduction
This article was flagged for fact-checking due to its coverage of France’s return of royal skulls to Madagascar, which raises questions about France’s colonial history and draws attention to the scale of its conquests, particularly in Africa. A reader asked how many countries France conquered during this time period, prompting a deeper review of the article’s accuracy and context.
Historical Context
France was among the leading European colonial powers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its empire expanding significantly across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific in what is often called the “Scramble for Africa.” Between the 1880s and World War I, France took control of large parts of North, West, and Central Africa, as well as key territories in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, including Madagascar. The legacy of these conquests — often violent and culturally disruptive — still influences debates over restitution, national identity, and postcolonial justice today.
Fact-Check Specific Claims
Claim #1: France conquered the kingdoms of the Sakalava people in western Madagascar in the 1890s and integrated the Sakalava into a newly formed French colony.
The article states that “France conquered the kingdoms of the Sakalava people in western Madagascar in the 1890s and integrated the Sakalava into a newly formed French colony.” Historical accounts confirm that France launched military campaigns in Madagascar during the early 1890s. The Sakalava and Merina kingdoms were subdued through force, and Madagascar officially became a French colony in 1896, with resistance continuing for several years, especially in western regions. This claim is accurate and in line with well-documented historical sources, such as the Encyclopedia Britannica and academic publications on colonial Madagascar.
Claim #2: France has returned three skulls to Madagascar, including one believed to be that of King Toera, who was executed by French troops in 1897.
The article mentions that one of the three skulls returned to Madagascar “is presumed to be that of King Toera,” and that he was executed by French troops in 1897. French and Malagasy government statements confirm the return of three skulls following a joint scientific commission, with one attributed to King Toera, a prominent Sakalava leader executed during France’s final push to subdue the region. Reports from the French Ministry of Culture and Malagasy press corroborate these details, so this claim is substantiated by current official records.
Claim #3: In response to the reader’s question: How many countries did France conquer during this period?
The article refers to France’s colonial expansion during the 19th century but does not specify how many countries were conquered. According to historical records, during the “Scramble for Africa” (circa 1880-1914), France established colonial rule over territories that now make up at least 20 independent countries in Africa alone, including Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Djibouti, Madagascar, and Comoros, among others. Additionally, France acquired or consolidated territories in Asia (such as Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia as part of French Indochina). The period referenced in the article, the 1890s, marked significant activity, with at least a dozen African countries and Madagascar coming under French control during that decade. This context provides a clear answer to the user’s question: France conquered more than a dozen countries during the 1890s, and around 20 in total throughout the wider colonial phase between 1880 and 1914, as supported by academic histories on French colonialism.
Conclusion
The article accurately describes France’s conquest of Madagascar in the 1890s and the symbolic return of King Toera’s remains. The facts regarding the repatriation and historical background are credible and align with widely accepted historical sources. While the article highlights the importance of the repatriation, it does not give the full scope of France’s colonial actions or specify the number of countries involved during the period, though its facts about Madagascar are correct and well-sourced. No major factual errors, misleading statements, or significant omissions were detected on the main claims, though additional context on the broader scale of French colonialism could further inform readers. The reporting is neutral and gives voice to sources from both France and Madagascar, effectively explaining the significance of the event.
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Link to Original Article
View the original article on CNN
