Republic of Independent Guiana

The borders between French Guiana and Brazil were not clear. Attempts at negotiations failed, and in 1862 it was decided that the area between the Amazon and the Oyapock was a neutral territory. Paul Quartier who had previously visited the territory in 1883, returned in 1885 and had a meeting with two village chiefs who were hostile to the Brazilians.[2] The gentlemen signed a treaty on 23 July 1886 creating the country of Counani in the disputed area.[3]

A government was set up in Counani near Calçoene[4] lead by Jules Gros as President, Guigues as Minister of State and Quartier as Quartermaster. They set about recruiting settlers, and according to Le Gaulois received over 3,000 requests.[2] Both France and Brazil did not like what was happening and released a joint statement on 11 September 1887 stating that the Republic of Counani is not recognized.[2] Gros was later disposed by his officials, and the death of Gros in 1891 resulted in the end of the short lived first Republic.[5]

In 1894 gold was discovered in the Calçoene River, and this caused the Brazilian general Francisco Cabral to declare another autonomous state under Brazilian protection which was crushed by the Governor of French Guiana. In 1897, France and Brazil asked Switzerland to settle the dispute, and most of the territory of the former state of Counani was given to Brazil in what is nowadays the state of Amapá.[2]

Flag of the Free State of Counani (1901–1904)

In 1901 a Frenchman named Adolphe Brezet proclaimed himself "Président de l'État libre de Counani".[5] According to newspaper articles based on Brezet's statements, he was elected democratically in 1901.[6]

This "special" State had a constitution, a flag and issued some stamps. It was never recognized by Brazil or France, but the South African Boer Republics opened diplomatic relations with Brezet (who had fought for them previously) during the Boer wars.[7] In 1904, Japan and Russia asked for vessels which Brezet didn't have, and thus exposed himself to France and Brazil. Nevertheless he claimed to be a president until 1911 when he was exiled to London.[8] In 1913, he claimed support of the British navy in a plan to recapture Counani.[6]

• Jules Gros (1809–1891) – a French journalist who laid claim as head of state from 1886 to 1891; he was Secretary of the Société de géographie in 1883[5]
• Francisco Xavier da Veiga Cabral - a Brazilian general (1894-1895)[2]
• Adolphe Brezet - a French military officer (1901–1904)[5]