The Day Africa Was Auctioned Off Without a Paddle When Europe Played Chess with Africa.
This is the beginning of a series of articles about a pertinent subject, one that continues to shape the African continent in ways both seen and unseen.
Picture this: Fourteen European powers sit around a grand table in Berlin, staring at a massive map of Africa. Not a single African is in the room, yet their lands, rivers, and resources are up for grabs. No invitations were sent, no opinions were sought—just a free-for-all where men in suits carved up a continent like a holiday turkey. The Berlin Conference (1884–1885) wasn’t about helping Africa; it was a glorified land rush disguised as diplomacy. If colonization were a sport, this was the World Cup.
The Carve-Up Begins
The Berlin Conference, formally known as the Berlin West Africa Conference, was a pivotal event in European colonial history. Held from November 15, 1884, to February 26, 1885, it spanned months of intense backroom deals, diplomatic niceties, and thinly veiled land grabs. The conference was held at the official residence of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck on Wilhelmstrasse, a setting as cold and clinical as the decisions being made within its walls.
In the center of the room stood a massive map of Africa—a continent that, for the men gathered, represented untapped wealth, strategic control, and the spoils of imperial ambition. The table was shaped like a horseshoe, perfect for plotting who would take what and how much. No African leaders were present. It wasn’t a discussion about Africa; it was a discussion over Africa.
The Players at the Table
Fourteen countries attended, but not all were equal in influence. Britain and France loomed largest, with Germany playing referee. Some nations, like Portugal and Belgium, came to fight for their slice of the imperial pie, while others, like Russia and the U.S., showed up mostly to keep up appearances.
1. Germany
• Otto von Bismarck, the iron-willed Chancellor, orchestrated the event, framing it as a noble effort to regulate trade and “civilize” Africa. In reality, he was managing European rivalries while securing German interests.
2. Great Britain
• Sir Edward Malet, Britain’s ambassador to Germany, pushed for free navigation on the Niger and Congo rivers, ensuring British trade dominance. Britain wasn’t here to make friends; it was here to maintain its empire.
3. France
• Alphonse Chodron de Courcel, a seasoned diplomat, fought for France’s claims in West and Central Africa, backing the Principle of Effective Occupation, which meant that countries had to physically control land to claim it.
4. Belgium
• King Leopold II, though absent, had his agents working the room like seasoned salesmen, lobbying for control of the Congo Free State. He promised humanitarian work, but what followed was one of history’s most brutal colonial regimes.
5. Portugal
• Luciano Cordeiro, Portugal’s diplomat, waved centuries-old treaties like a golden ticket, demanding territorial rights that Britain and Germany weren’t too keen to recognize.
6. United States
• John A. Kasson, the U.S. minister to Germany, sat through the conference with arms metaphorically crossed, signaling American disinterest in direct colonization. The U.S. came, listened, and left without much fuss.
The remaining countries—Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Denmark, Sweden-Norway, and the Ottoman Empire—mostly played supporting roles, either backing the major players or ensuring they didn’t miss out on potential gains.
Dividing a Continent Without Asking
The result of the conference was the General Act of Berlin (1885), a document that formalized Europe’s approach to African colonization. Key agreements included:
• The Congo Free State was given to King Leopold II under the guise of humanitarian work. In reality, it became a private hellscape of forced labor, mutilations, and mass deaths.
• The Principle of Effective Occupation stated that a country couldn’t just claim land on paper—it had to control it. This triggered a frantic land grab.
• Free Trade Zones were established along the Congo and Niger rivers, ensuring European businesses could exploit Africa’s resources without unnecessary roadblocks.
The conference also included a so-called anti-slavery clause, which was more of a public relations move than a serious commitment. If the attendees were truly interested in ending slavery, they wouldn’t have been dividing up land to exploit its people.
Who Had the Real Power?
Though 14 nations were present, the real power brokers were:
1. Great Britain – Already controlling vast parts of Africa, Britain ensured its dominance along crucial trade routes, securing its Cape-to-Cairo dream.
2. France – Expanded aggressively into West Africa and the Congo basin, often clashing with Britain.
3. Germany – Though late to the game, Bismarck secured Germany’s colonial presence in Namibia, Togo, Cameroon, and East Africa.
4. Belgium – Leopold II walked away with the Congo Free State, his personal fiefdom of horror.
Portugal, Spain, and Italy got smaller scraps, while Russia and the U.S. had no real stakes.
The Legacy of the Carve-Up
By 1914, 90% of Africa was under European control, with only Ethiopia and Liberia remaining independent. Borders were drawn with zero regard for ethnic, cultural, or historical realities, sowing the seeds for future conflicts. The effects of this arbitrary partitioning still haunt the continent today—civil wars, identity crises, and post-colonial struggles all trace their roots to the decisions made in Berlin’s grand chambers.
So, next time someone calls it a “civilizing mission,” remind them: It was a grand heist, and Africa never saw it coming.
This is part one. In the next installment, we will dissect the geographical features of the problem in this region and how they played into the colonial strategies that followed.