In 1889, Nikolay Achinov arrived in the Gulf of Tadjoura with the intention of founding New Moscow - the first russian colony on the African continent. The main goals for the settlement were likely - to threaten the British monopoly on the Suez trade route, to further develop relations with Ethiopia and possibly to further develop russian interests on the red sea and Africa. The settlement was quickly destroyed by the french who considered the russians to be invading their territory of French Somaliland and the dream of Russian Africa was defeated in less than a year.
What would it take to have this colony become a success, or at least survive long enough to make a difference to east african history. Is there any way the french could be overcome (Dijibouti was hardly an important possession for them at the time) - what would britains reaction be and what would be any future ramifications of this?
What would it take to have this colony become a success, or at least survive long enough to make a difference to east african history. Is there any way the french could be overcome (Dijibouti was hardly an important possession for them at the time) - what would britains reaction be and what would be any future ramifications of this?