So I was thinking of Scramble for Africa WI's, and I was thinking of if there is a possibility for a Great War to happen because of the Scramble for Africa. So your challenge is, to make a war occur over the colonization of Africa. It could be a war between two powers, but I'm interested in a World war Over the Partition of Africa.
 
Ohh yeah, I remember the Fashoda crisis. it's a big thing in this community. Is there another war that could break out though?

Its rather unlikely, given the scale of the war you'd be risking for what were marginal strategic gains, a smattering of prestige, and minimal economic resources. No chunk of Africa compact enough to be reasonbly in dispute would be seen as worth a Great War-scale tussel.
 
Its rather unlikely, given the scale of the war you'd be risking for what were marginal strategic gains, a smattering of prestige, and minimal economic resources. No chunk of Africa compact enough to be reasonbly in dispute would be seen as worth a Great War-scale tussel.

I thought Africa is pretty strategical, given it controls a lot of Asian, and Atlantic routes for trade, but I also thought Africa had a lot of priceless resources, like Ivory, and a lot of labor that could be used? Wouldn't the fate of an entire continent be pretty large in scale?
 
I thought Africa is pretty strategical, given it controls a lot of Asian, and Atlantic routes for trade, but I also thought Africa had a lot of priceless resources, like Ivory, and a lot of labor that could be used? Wouldn't the fate of an entire continent be pretty large in scale?

That's the problem though; you're never going to get a situation where the fate of the entire African continent hinges on any one or even one series of related events that could meaningfully result in a single war, because the "proper" ownership of such a vast swath of territory is never going to be disputable. Sure, you have some strategic points that smaller wars might get fought over, assuming it isen't just brought up to international arbitration (The usual procedure). Ivory is also not priceless, especially by the time of mass industralization and African colonization roles around, nor was MOBALIZING all that labor even somewhat viable. You're thinking far too much in terms of pure, "gamey" potential rather than practical terms.
 
That's the problem though; you're never going to get a situation where the fate of the entire African continent hinges on any one or even one series of related events that could meaningfully result in a single war, because the "proper" ownership of such a vast swath of territory is never going to be disputable. Sure, you have some strategic points that smaller wars might get fought over, assuming it isen't just brought up to international arbitration (The usual procedure). Ivory is also not priceless, especially by the time of mass industralization and African colonization roles around, nor was MOBALIZING all that labor even somewhat viable. You're thinking far too much in terms of pure, "gamey" potential rather than practical terms.

Understandable. I get what you're saying now. I researched some stuff up, and I think the Pink Map affair might be interesting.
 
What about some sort of dispute over the suez canal? it is is Africa and is certainky strategically important enoigh to spark a world war
 
What about some sort of dispute over the suez canal? it is is Africa and is certainky strategically important enoigh to spark a world war

Well if this is colonial Africa, some might help the Ottomans win the war against Egypt, so Ottomans keep Egypt and Sinai, so then the Suez isn't in British hands, but the Ottomans can allow only some nations access. Britan and the Ottomans might go to war over the Suez for India, which may escalate.
 
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