Is it possible to have West Africa(that at least contained Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast)to be subdued a European country that is NOT France, by PoD no earlier than 1799 ?
Perhaps Spain or Portugal?
Geographical reasons. Spain and Portugal are nearer that region. Also, the Canaries could be used as an initial staging post for any colonial adbventure.Why ?
Though I do prefer that it won't be Britain as they will be the most likely candidate in the absence of France anyway......
Geographical reasons. Spain and Portugal are nearer that region. Also, the Canaries could be used as an initial staging post for any colonial adbventure.
Good points. Would they have enough incentive and primarily the muscles to expand though ? The French did it as one of among the leading Industrial Powers IOTL after all. Perhaps a stronger Spain/Portugal can be achieved ?
Though, anymore candidates ?
The Danes actually pulled out of their trade forts thus before the Scramble for Africa. If they had held on they could have cut themselves a slice of tha ction. Might not have been very big one though.The Germans had a presence in West Africa spanning over a long period of time, from a few minor Prussian forts along the Gold Coast and Mauritania to German Togoland. Perhaps this could be expanded.
The Dutch, Danes, and Swedes also had Gold Coast colonies for some time...
I don't think that the Dutch are a good choice. It is likely that the Dutch would get a colony in west Africa, but it will probably limited to the goldcoast. The Dutch already have a good prestigues colony: Indonesia. The Dutch didn't need a big colony in western Africa (although a smaller colony at Ghana isn't out of the question). Also if you take away Indonesia from the Dutch and I doubt they are willing to gain a large, prestigous, but almost worthless colony in western Africa. It is I think a bit too big for the small Netherlands.The Germans had a presence in West Africa spanning over a long period of time, from a few minor Prussian forts along the Gold Coast and Mauritania to German Togoland. Perhaps this could be expanded.
The Dutch, Danes, and Swedes also had Gold Coast colonies for some time...
As unlikely as it sounds, I think the United States of America could do it.
I find that hard to see. Liberia was one thing, a free slave haven, but the Monroe Doctrine or simply just the USA's background would make this hard to achieve. America's early opposition in principle to the European empires, and their policy of trying to force Europeans out of the Americas, meant that if the USA tried to be too proactive in Africa, they'd be asking for the Europeans to eject them in exactly the same way. The Americans were standing for no stick, so they were provoking the Europeans into the same reaction - the only thing is that IOTL the US didn't try anything really which could have resulted in the Europeans doing this. If you try to retract the Monroe Doctrine, aside from weakening the USA's position you're likely also just making the US seem a weaker, almost subservient country - from being likely to provoke an aggressive response from other countries they become one likely to be looked down on and scorned if they were too try this, yielding much the same result.
I think your best chance is either somehow getting Spain to spread south, as mentioned, or having Germany/UK (depending on POD) seize the French colonies as a result of a 1871-standard crushing defeat.
Just my opinions, of course.
I think your best chance is either somehow getting Spain to spread south, as mentioned, or having Germany/UK (depending on POD) seize the French colonies as a result of a 1871-standard crushing defeat.