WI: the Scramble for Africa caused war between Europeans and an age of privateers?

What if the great powers were unable to come to an agreement at the Berlin Conference or any other time, and instead, the Scramble for Africa became a free-for-all between all the great powers (British vs German, German vs French, French vs British, British vs Belgian, etc.) and native kingdoms?

Could some native kingdoms survive?

Would the colonial wars in Africa be able to stay in Africa or would they lead to a war in Europe?

Could a second privateer era begin?
 
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Ah, that would be awesome.

I mean, I think there would be some kind of agreements between European powers. Letting it be a free for all is just asking for trouble in an already fragile diplomatic environment for too small a prize.

However, something less well defined with more bilateral agreements is possible. And for the privateer bit...

You had quite a few attempts at personal kingdoms by adventurers. The Counani Republic in Guyana, Marie 1er of the Sedang in Indochina and the short lived Voulet Chanoine expedition in Western Africa.

A lot of those failed by a pinch. If Marie 1er hadn't tried to enlist the Prussians or been an all-out dick, if the financial backers of Counani hadn't backed out at the last minute... You could have had a bunch of independant, private states. Since "official" states wouldn't have been too keen on them you can imagine a privateer network set to exploit their opportunities and commerce with them.

That would make a very cool book
 
This is quite difficult, since the 1856 Declaration of Paris outlawed privateering and was supported by the British, who dominated the international seaways.

The scramble for Africa largely occurred after this, so you'd at the very least need to butterfly away the DoP, which is very difficult.
 
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