Today, 65 years ago, on July 11, 1960, the Four African States declared independence. On July 11, 1960, four Western African countries, such as Daoamerica, Niger, Upper Walt and Ivory Coast, signed an agreement with France to become sovereign states. The four countries originally belonged to the French colony, French West Africa. In December 1958, the four countries respectively became the ¡°autonomous republics¡± of the French community. After the agreement was signed, the four countries officially declared independence on August 1, 3, 7, and 4, respectively. On November 30, 1975, the name of the United States was changed to Benin; on August 4, 1984, the name of Upper Walt was changed to Burkina Faso, meaning ¡°the State of Dignity¡±; on January 1, 1986, the Ivory Coast was changed to Coventry.