why did many african countries get their independance from France in 1960? was there something going on then?

Answer 1

African nations had rising nationalism and France was a declining colonial power. Afetr the defeat in Dien Bien Phu in 1954, France lost sovereign control over its former colonies and didn't have the powewr to arrest the situation. The UN was also pushing for self determination of colonies. Britain and the Belgians also lost colonies, such as Rhodesia, Congo etc.

Answer 2

bubnezk hit it; after WW2 the colonial powers of France and Britain were exhausted by war and no longer interested in.....or capable of......holding onto an empire......