Editing Inini

{{Short description|French Guiana inland territory, 1930-1946}}
{{for multi|the [[Administrative centre|district headquarters]] of the [[Dibang Valley district]]|Anini}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = Territory of Inini
|native_name            = ''Territoire de l'Inini''
|common_name            = Inini
|empire                 = France
|status                 = Colony
|p1                     = French Guiana
|flag_p1                = Flag of France.svg
|s1                     = French Guiana
|flag_s1                = Flag of France.svg
|image_flag             = Flag of France.svg
|image_map              = Arrondissement de l'Inini (1952).png
|image_map_caption      = Inini (green) and [[French Guiana]] (beige)
|capital                = Saint-Élie
|common_languages       = [[French language|French]]
|government_type        = 
|era                    = [[Interwar period|Interbellum]]{{·}}[[World War II]]
|event_start            = Separated from [[French Guiana]]
|date_start             = 6 June
|year_start             = 1930
|event_end              = Reintegrated
|date_end               = 19 March
|year_end               = 1946
|stat_year1             = 1946
|stat_pop1              = 5,024
|ref_pop1               = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00004327/00001/31x |title=Vous qui voulez venir en Guyane|website=University of Florida|year=1953|access-date=3 August 2020|language=fr|pages=28–29|quote=1946 census data. On page 29, it was noted that there were an estimated 4,000 foreigners in the country who mainly worked in the interior, i.e. the illegal gold prospectors were not included in the statistics}}</ref>
|currency               = [[French franc]]
}}

'''Inini''' was an inland territory of [[French Guiana]], administered separately between 6 June 1930<ref name="decree1930">{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k96600265/f4|title=Création de territoire en Guyane française|website=Journal officiel de la Guyane française via Bibliothèque Nationale de France|date=6 June 1930|access-date=6 June 2020|language=fr}}</ref> and 19 March 1946, after which all of French Guiana became a [[Departments of France|department]] of [[France]].<ref name="decree1946">{{cite web|url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do;jsessionid=90C2AF15B7AFCE0B54864E7C5B5834EF.tpdjo06v_1?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000868445&dateTexte=20110903|title=Loi n° 46-451 du 19 mars 1946 tendant au classement comme départements français de la Guadeloupe, de la Martinique, de la Réunion et de la Guyane française |website=Government of the French Republic|access-date=6 June 2020|date=19 March 1946|language=fr}}</ref> The territory remained governed as a special entity, until 17 March 1969 when it was dissolved into [[communes of France|communes]], and subject to regular government.<ref name="stanford"/> Its capital was [[Saint-Élie]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://omniatlas.com/maps/south-america/19301024/|title=South America 1930: Vargas Revolution|website=Omni Atlas|access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref> The population of the territory consisted of [[Amerindians]], [[Maroon (people)|Maroons]], and [[Gold prospecting|gold prospectors]].<ref name="stanford">{{cite book|url=https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/11652140|title=Le territoire de l'Inini : 1930-1969|website=Matoury via Stanford.edu|isbn=9782375205051 |access-date=6 June 2020|language=fr |last1=Thabouillot |first1=Gérard |date=24 August 2023 |publisher=Ibis rouge éditions }}</ref> The district was named after the river [[Inini (river)|Inini]], a major river in the interior of French Guiana which runs east to west, unlike the other major rivers which run south to north.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un-temoin-en-guyane.com/au-temps-de-l-inini|title=Au temps de l'Inini|website=Un Témoin en Guyane|access-date=3 August 2020|language=fr}}</ref>

==History==
The purpose of the colony was to develop the interior separately from the coastal area around [[Cayenne]]. The colony came into effect on 6 June 1930,<ref name="decree1930"/> and was mainly a military affair.{{sfn|Thabouillot|2011|p=43}} The territory was [[Rule by decree|ruled by decree]] first by the [[List of colonial and departmental heads of French Guiana|governor of French Guiana]] and later by the prefect.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blada.com/boite-aux-lettres/infos-citoyennes/15111-Colloque_le_territoire_de_l_Inini_1930-1969_.htm|title=Colloque : le territoire de l'Inini (1930-1969)|website=Blada|access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref> Initially only three services were offered: water management, [[forest management]], and mines.{{sfn|Thabouillot|2011|p=44}}

[[File:Annamite prison bagne.jpg|thumb|left|[[Prison of the Annamites]] (2005)]]
In 1930, a total of seven military officers and nine [[gendarme]]s were stationed in the territory.{{sfn|Thabouillot|2011|p=48}} The main focus was on the legal gold mining companies, and the difficult access to the mines in the jungle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/frenchguiana03.htm|title=Industrial Railways in French Guiana, 2014 |website=International Steam|access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref> In 1931, a labour force consisting of 535 [[Annam (French protectorate)|Annam]]ite prisoners who had revolted against French rule in [[French Indochina|Indochina]] were brought in to make the territory accessible.{{sfn|Donet-Vincent|2001|p=215}} [[Senegalese Tirailleurs]] were used to guard and oversee the prisoners.{{sfn|Donet-Vincent|2001|p=217}} In 1936, the governor informed Paris that the project was successful, because the interior could soon be opened for colonisation. In 1937, the prisoners at [[Camp Crique Anguille]] revolted.{{sfn|Donet-Vincent|2001|p=218}}

In 1941, American troops were stationed in [[Suriname]] to protect the colony and its [[bauxite]] industry, which was primarily American-owned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.verzetsmuseum.org/museum/nl/tweede-wereldoorlog/koninkrijkdernederlanden/suriname_antillen_aruba|title=Wereldoorlog in de West - Suriname, de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba 1940-1945|website=[[Verzetsmuseum]]|access-date=3 August 2020|language=nl|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809111206/https://www.verzetsmuseum.org/museum/nl/tweede-wereldoorlog/koninkrijkdernederlanden/suriname_antillen_aruba|url-status=dead}}</ref> One year later, [[Brazil]] declared war on [[Germany]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://history.info/on-this-day/1942-brazil-declares-war-on-hitlers-germany/|title=1942: Brazil Declares War on Hitler's Germany|website=History.info|date=21 August 2019 |access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref> Inini was part of [[Vichy France]], a neutral state associated with Nazi Germany through the [[Armistice of 22 June 1940]], and now found itself squeezed between two hostile countries, therefore the main effort of the administration was guarding the borders until 16 March 1943{{sfn|Donet-Vincent|2001|p=220}} when Inini sided with [[Free France]].{{sfn|Thabouillot|2011|p=48}} On 6 December 1944, the prisoner camps were abandoned and the Annamites returned to the normal prisons. The first group was released in July 1946, however the last group had to wait until August 1953.{{sfn|Donet-Vincent|2001|p=220}}

The plan to develop the territory did not work out, owing to the difficulties of railroad construction in the interior. The ruins of the three prisons used may still be seen.<ref name="bagne">{{cite journal|url=https://journals.openedition.org/criminocorpus/182|title=Les "bagnes" des Indochinois en Guyane (1931-1963)|journal=Criminocorpus, Revue Hypermédia|access-date=6 June 2020|language=fr|date=1 January 2006|doi=10.4000/criminocorpus.182 |last1=Donet-Vincent |first1=Danielle |s2cid=247825093 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In 1944, the [[Brazzaville Conference]] was held among Free French leaders which promised all citizens of France's colonies equal rights with French citizens after the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fresques.ina.fr/independances/parcours/0005/les-chemins-politiques-de-brazzaville-a-la-communaute-1944-1958.html|title=Les chemins politiques, de Brazzaville à la Communauté (1944-1958)|website=Institut national de l'audiovisuel|language=fr|access-date=5 August 2020}}</ref> Therefore, on 19 March 1946 all of French Guiana became a [[Department (country subdivision)|department]] of [[France]];<ref name="decree1946"/> however, Inini would be administrated separately, because it was lacking basic services like health care and education. On 17 March 1969, the territory was dissolved into [[communes of France|communes]], and subject to regular democratic government.<ref name="stanford"/>

==Postage stamps==
[[File:Inini SW 06 - 1932.JPG|140px|right|thumb|A 1932 stamp of Inini]]
During this period, the [[postage stamp]]s of French Guiana were [[overprint]]ed with several variations on "TERRITOIRE DE L'ININI" and the [[omnibus issue]]s for the Colonial Arts Exhibition in 1937 and the [[1939 New York World's Fair|New York World's Fair]] in 1939 included stamps inscribed "ININI".  Despite the limited audience, the stamps of Inini are commonly available at minimal prices today.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.francephilatelie.com/le-territoire-de-linini|title=Le territoire de l'Inini|website=France Philatelie|date=8 September 2016 |access-date=6 June 2020|language=fr}}</ref>

==See also==
*{{C|Former colonies in South America}}
*{{C|French colonization of the Americas}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite magazine|last1=Donet-Vincent|first1=Danielle|year=2001|url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/outre_1631-0438_2001_num_88_330_3849|title=Les "bagnes" des Indochinois en Guyane (1931-1963)|website=Persée|language=fr|series=Outre-Mers. Revue d'histoire}}
* {{cite magazine|last1=Thabouillot|first1=Gérard|year=2011|title=Être chef de poste en Inini (1930-1969)|series=Outre-Mers. Revue d'histoire|url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/outre_1631-0438_2011_num_98_370_4532|language=fr|website=Persée|issn=2275-4954}}

{{commons category}}
{{Former French colonies}}

{{Coord|3|N|53|W|display=title}}

[[Category:History of French Guiana]]
[[Category:Former colonies in South America]]
[[Category:Former French colonies]]
[[Category:French colonization of the Americas]]
[[Category:1930s in South America]]
[[Category:1940s in South America]]
[[Category:1930s in the French colonial empire]]
[[Category:1940s in the French colonial empire]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1930]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1946]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in the French colonial empire]]
[[Category:1946 disestablishments in the French colonial empire]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in South America]]
[[Category:1946 disestablishments in South America]]
[[Category:20th century in French Guiana]]
[[Category:Former countries of the interwar period]]