Partition of Africa

[Joe Bonkers]

Hopefully this idea isn't either ASB or done to death, but...

What if the European powers, prior to the "scramble for Africa," had decided to partition the continent into colonial regions for each participant, such that colonies belonging to Britain or France were not scattered around Africa, but rather each region was allocated - all of West Africa to France, say, or all of southern Africa to Britain. You can assume they decide on demarcation lines prior to actual exploration/occupation of the interior.

Depending on what the POD would be, it's likely this would raise difficulties when Germany and/or Italy wanted a share of the pie. (Would they then be redirected toward the Ottoman Empire/Middle East?) It would be nice, though, to see King Leopold not get his personal Congo colony.

I admit to historical ignorance about the specifics of the history of African colonization, so feel free to enlighten me if you're an expert.

 

[Deleted member 67076]

Thats not really possible due to the Berlin Conference and the strategic interests of the powers, to say nothing of the African states and their relationships with Europe.

The conference's core rules were "no horse trading" meaning no colonial trading- hence why the Gambia wasnt given away to France in exchange for concessions elsewhere or why the Cameroon looks so awkward.

Additionally theres too much investment in some areas; theres no way Britain would ever pull out of the rich and populated Gold Coast or the Royal Niger Company areas. These are the most populated and at the time most developed regions in Africa. Resources aside theyre simply too good as a captive market.

And no one wanted anyone important to get the Congo, it was just seen as potentially too important to let go. Giving it to Belgium was more about denying usage by other powers than anything else. The same can be applied to other areas; Britain would never let go of East Africa because it provides a link between the Cape Colony and the Suez, both vital for controlling Indian Ocean trade. France wanted all of the Sahel to patrol Algeria and due to centuries of contact with the inland empires who were rich and developed. Portugal Angola because of its minerals and longstanding clientalism through Lusoafricans. You get the picture.

Frankly, the Berlin Conference was as good and smooth as the partition got. Without it, youd probably see colonial wars. Or more likely, a lot less colonization in general.