The Berlin Conference

The 1884-85 Berlin Conference brought together European nations and the United States to carve up Africa. Notably, no African nations were represented during the four-month conference, where participating countries dictated local trade and allocated African resources for their own benefit. The British found it laughable when the Sultan of Zanzibar attempted to gain an invitation to the conference. The meeting aimed to “civilize” Africa through the introduction of Christianity and trade. While the gathering created the illusion of humanitarianism for the local populations of Africa, however it was purely an economic endeavor. Primarily, the meeting was established to divide the vast resources of Africa between numerous European countries, in essence creating boundaries that continue to endure.

A map of Africa before 1880, multi-colored with unexplored areas. — Source: matadornetwork.com

Thirteen European countries with the addition of the U.S. and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) met on November 15th 1884. The meeting was hosted at the residence of Prince Otto von Bismarck-Schonhausen, the Chancellor of the new German Empire in Berlin. The meeting was adorned with a large, drooping map of Africa. America refrained due to political and financial restraints related to the Civil War.

Congo Free State

King Leopold II had already gained a foothold in the region of the Congo under philanthropic auspices. He posited that slavery would be ended in the territory and free trade would be allowed. However, it was all deception and eventually France and Great Britain caught on. King Leopold II of Belgium, already holding influence in central Africa, exploited the conference to create the Congo Free State (1885-1908). It was a privately owned territory marked by brutal exploitation. King Leopold’s regime, characterized by slavery conditions, involved extreme measures such as amputations and killings for failing to meet resource quotas. Rubber, ivory, and other minerals were plentiful in the area, and extracted for economic gain by the locals. The exploitation ended the lives of more than half of the local population. International outcry, particularly from missionaries, ultimately halted these atrocities after an estimated 10 million Congolese lives were lost.

Conclusion

Following the conference’s conclusion, France, Great Britain, Portugal and Germany sought to expand its influence in Africa, resulting in European control of over 90% of the continent’s resources by 1914. A copy of the general act of the Berlin Conference is here.