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How did French colonial administration differ from British indirect rule in western Africa?

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Map of North America in 1763 using color coding to show colonial territories: the 13 American colonies in red along the Atlantic coast, other British territory in orange across much of present-day Canada, Spanish territory in purple covering most of the southern and western regions, Russian territory in green in the northwest, and large areas of unclaimed land in white. Major bodies of water such as the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson Bay are labeled. — Western colonialism North America during the colonial period.

The primary difference between French and British colonial administration in western Africa lay in their theoretical approaches to local governance and the role of traditional African authorities.1

French Administration: The French viewed local African chiefs as the lowest tier of a single, centralized administrative machine. This system was designed to be conducted entirely on French lines, with the ultimate goal of assimilation—the acculturation of African subjects so they might eventually become full French citizens integrated into the metropolitan state. Consequently, the French moved away from relying on indigenous power structures once their own control was firmly established.1
British Indirect Rule: In contrast, the British developed and systematically applied the theory of indirect rule, particularly under the influence of Frederick Lugard. Rather than reaching directly down to every individual subject, British authority was exercised at the district level by cultivating and molding the governments of traditional African rulers. This approach aimed to maintain control while preserving traditional political structures, though it faced significant challenges in societies where authority was not clearly defined.1