Hmmm, yeah I see how the country would not be in a good position to industrialise as easily as other countries, but what about through a mercantile action?
Even without a coastline, it has relatively easy access through the ports of Somaliland and Djibouti and then it can have access to central African markets.
If it cannot industrialise by itself, it is a relatively stable country (meaning, with a strong king), with a few resources of its own (timber, gemstones, oil...). With a bit of PR in Europe, it could be a good place for adventurous capitalists looking for a high return.
What about this:
After the eternal friendship treaty of 1862, the French send an officer to take possession of it much earlier than 1884. Say, the mid 70's after the pacification (ahum) of Algeria and before the conquest of Tonkin.
Realising the port is only worth what it leads to, its hinterland, the officer works hard at strengthening the ties with Ethiopia and seeks to develop its industrial base by creating the Société d'Industrie et d'Investissement de Djibouti et d'Éthiopie, of which he is a silent but interested partner (possibly through a couple mirrors, I don't know how legal it would be), basically redoing the doctrine of Lyautey about the role of the colonial officer a decade before it's actually written.
Although, you know, if you control the main port of a poor country which rely on self-reliant agriculture, doesn't do much, you control the main port of an industrious nation with strong European tie, now you have a pressure point.
Controlling Ethiopia through trade could also be a good joke on the Brit's with their silly project of a Cairo-Cape Town line (and a good point for a Dakar-Djibouti one).
Seeing the opportunity, both to become a good stop on the way to the far East and a big gate to the centre of Africa, this officer takes the opportunity and works to get more capital and skills in the country, to exploit and industrialise.
How does that sound?
Even without a coastline, it has relatively easy access through the ports of Somaliland and Djibouti and then it can have access to central African markets.
If it cannot industrialise by itself, it is a relatively stable country (meaning, with a strong king), with a few resources of its own (timber, gemstones, oil...). With a bit of PR in Europe, it could be a good place for adventurous capitalists looking for a high return.
What about this:
After the eternal friendship treaty of 1862, the French send an officer to take possession of it much earlier than 1884. Say, the mid 70's after the pacification (ahum) of Algeria and before the conquest of Tonkin.
Realising the port is only worth what it leads to, its hinterland, the officer works hard at strengthening the ties with Ethiopia and seeks to develop its industrial base by creating the Société d'Industrie et d'Investissement de Djibouti et d'Éthiopie, of which he is a silent but interested partner (possibly through a couple mirrors, I don't know how legal it would be), basically redoing the doctrine of Lyautey about the role of the colonial officer a decade before it's actually written.
Although, you know, if you control the main port of a poor country which rely on self-reliant agriculture, doesn't do much, you control the main port of an industrious nation with strong European tie, now you have a pressure point.
Controlling Ethiopia through trade could also be a good joke on the Brit's with their silly project of a Cairo-Cape Town line (and a good point for a Dakar-Djibouti one).
Seeing the opportunity, both to become a good stop on the way to the far East and a big gate to the centre of Africa, this officer takes the opportunity and works to get more capital and skills in the country, to exploit and industrialise.
How does that sound?