Activity along the coast stimulated European interest in the interior, especially along the two great rivers, the Senegal and the Niger. Concerted French exploration of West Africa began in the mid-19th century but moved slowly, based more on individual initiative than on government policy. In the 1840s, the French concluded a series of treaties with local West African chiefs that enabled the French to build fortified posts along the Gulf of Guinea to serve as permanent trading centres. The first posts in Ivory Coast included one at Assinie and another at Grand-Bassam, which became the colony's first capital. The treaties provided for French sovereignty within the posts and for trading privileges in exchange for fees or coutumes paid annually to the local chiefs for the use of the land. The arrangement was not entirely satisfactory to the French, because trade was limited and misunderstandings over treaty obligations often arose. Nevertheless, the French government maintained the treaties, hoping to expand trade. France also wanted to maintain a presence in the region to stem the increasing influence of the British along the Gulf of Guinea coast. thumb|Louis-Gustave Binger of French West Africa in 1892 treaty signing with Famienkro leaders, in present-day N'zi-Comoé Region, Ivory Coast The defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 and the subsequent annexation by Germany of the French province of Alsace–Lorraine initially caused the French government to abandon its colonial ambitions and withdraw its military garrisons from its West African trading posts, leaving them in the care of resident merchants. The trading post at Grand-Bassam was left in the care of a shipper from Marseille, Arthur Verdier, who in 1878 was named Resident of the Establishment of Ivory Coast.
Activity along the coast stimulated European interest in the interior especially along the two great rivers the Senegal and the Niger Concerted French exploration of West Africa began in the mid-19th century but moved slowly based more on individual initiative than on government policy In the 1840s the French concluded a series of treaties with local West African chiefs that enabled the French to build fortified posts along the Gulf of Guinea to serve as permanent trading centres The first posts in Ivory Coast included one at Assinie and another at Grand-Bassam which became the colony's first capital The treaties provided for French sovereignty within the posts and for trading privileges in exchange for fees or coutumes paid annually to the local chiefs for the use of the land The arrangement was not entirely satisfactory to the French because trade was limited and misunderstandings over treaty obligations often arose Nevertheless the French government maintained the treaties hoping to expand trade France also wanted to maintain a presence in the region to stem the increasing influence of the British along the Gulf of Guinea coast thumb|Louis-Gustave Binger of French West Africa in 1892 treaty signing with Famienkro leaders in present-day N'zi-Comoé Region Ivory Coast The defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 and the subsequent annexation by Germany of the French province of Alsace–Lorraine initially caused the French government to abandon its colonial ambitions and withdraw its military garrisons from its West African trading posts leaving them in the care of resident merchants The trading post at Grand-Bassam was left in the care of a shipper from Marseille Arthur Verdier who in 1878 was named Resident of the Establishment of Ivory Coast