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After the Second World War, the idea of uniting Europe and Africa, known as Eurafrica, came to the fore. In a world divided between the two superpowers and the blocs they led, Eurafrica was viewed as indispensable for the restoration of France’s status in the world. Assuming the « complementarity » and « interdependence » of European and African interests, advocates of Eurafrica urged the tapping of the resources of Africa and its defence. Both were considered as vital to the survival of France. As the movement toward decolonization and independence gathered force in the 1950s and 1960s, the Eurafrica project resembled an endorsement of the colonial status quo.