Allon Posen

The Berlin West Africa Conference

German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, taking up a suggestion from the Portuguese, initiated an international conference to settle the territorial disputes arising from European colonial interests in the Congo region.

From the 15th November 1884, to the 26th February 1885, the Berlin West Africa Conference was held, and its final result was far greater than the accomplishment of its initial intent.

In addition to addressing some of the disputes resulting from activities in the Congo, it was at this conference that the future (and current, to a large degree) map of Africa was drawn, by European politicians sitting at a table on another Continent.

The partition of Africa into its current Nation-States was accompanied by ‘the rules to be observed in future with regard to the occupation of territory on the coasts on Africa.’ Essentially, if there was to be a race to colonize the continent of Africa, guidelines were needed to govern this race, and to ensure that it was a civilized process.

Specifically, Article 34 of the Berlin Act stated that any future occupation of territory on the African coast, or declaration of a ‘protectorate’ there must be ratified by the signers of the Act itself, following notification of the acquisition. This was called the Doctrine of the Spheres of Influence.

Article 35 of the Berlin Act stipulated that any occupying power had to demonstrate sufficient ‘authority to protect existing rights…freedom of trade and of transit under the conditions agreed upon.’ Thus, this Doctrine of Effective Occupation, left a loophole, whereby another power could assert that the ‘first one there’ had not effectively occupied a territory, and thus claim ownership over it. Thus, the race was not going to based solely on speed, but also on military power.

Allon Posen

African Governments in the 19 th Century

Africa in the 1880s was weak and ripe for conquest by the Europeans. TO resist an invasion, strong political and cultural unity is needed, along with technological, military, and administrative advancement. Africa possessed none of these.

Politically , there had been relatively few powerful Civilizations in Africa, and tribal groups generally lacked most of the “Traits of Civilization.” People generally lived in disconnected villages, and there were few cities to concentrate population and creative energy.

In West Africa, there had not been a civilization since the fall of the Songhai Empire in 1591, and there was little remaining to join people together. Along the East African coast, the Swahili trading states were thriving, but were competitors and would not stand together against an invader.

Culturally , Africa possessed over 450 Ethnic and linguistic groups, dividing them and making them easy to conquer one at a time. Indeed, many tribes had longstanding feuds and hatreds with one another, and were only too happy to collaborate with the Europeans in order to topple their rival (African) group.

In terms of military technology and strategies, most Africans were still operating in the Iron Age, with only spears, arrows, and clubs to resist modern-age rifles, cannons, and strategies. Shaka Zulu had yet to be the first African military strategist to conceive of regiments and a strategy of envelopment – something Alexander the Great had used almost 2400 years earlier.

Finally, as there were no central governments, there was minimal administration. Most African tribes were small and acted independently when encountering Europeans; it was rare for there to be even a powerful leader, let alone enough organization to create and implement a resistance strategy.