The Partition of Africa

The Partition of Africa

The Partition of Africa began in earnest with the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, and was the cause of most of Africa’s borders today.  This conference was called by German Chancellor Bismarck to settle how Europeancountries would claim colonial land in Africa and to avoid a war among European nations over African territory.  All the major European States were invited to the conference. Germany, France, Great Britain, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Spain were all considered to have a future role in the imperial partition of Africa.  The United States was invited because of its interest in Liberia but did not attend because it had no desire to build a colonial empire in Africa.  Also invited were Austria-Hungary, Sweden-Norway, Denmark, Italy, Turkey, and Russia who all were considered minor players in the quest for colonizing Africa, though Italy would claim some colonial possessions in Northeast Africa.  Most notably there were no Africans present at this conference, nor were any Europeans present to ensure that native Africans had any say in the proceedings.