The French sphere of Albreda: A transition zone for the French slave trafficking during the legitimate trade

The 19th century has ushered in a new wave of economic progress for Southern Senegambia. To investigate this dimension, the study adopted a historical analysis approach to explore the implications of 19th-century economic change in Southern Senegambia, driven by the shift from mercantile capitalism to industrial capitalism dominated by the British. The decline of the Atlantic slave trade and the rise of legitimate trade transformed the local economy and power dynamics. The study highlights the competition between European powers, particularly Britain and France, over strategic areas for trade and resources. The findings suggest that the British abolition of the slave trade and the expansion of cash cropping, such as peanuts, led to significant changes in the local division of labor and economy.