The 1884 Berlin Conference, also known as the Congo Conference or the Scramble for Africa, was a watershed moment in African history. The Scramble for Africa is a term used to describe European powers' colonization and partition of Africa in the late nineteenth century. Representatives from fourteen European nations, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire attended the conference, which took place in Berlin, Germany, from November 15, 1884, to February 26, 1885. The conference aimed to regulate and coordinate European colonization and trade in Africa; in other words, they hoped to divide the continent of Africa among the European Powers and this was instrumental in shaping Africa's future.

Countries and principal actors

Representatives from fourteen European countries attended the conference, including Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden-Norway, and the United Kingdom. The conference also included representatives from the United States and the Ottoman Empire.

The main goal of the conference was to establish a framework for dividing Africa among European powers and to prevent conflict over territory and resources. There were no African representatives at the conference, and their interests and rights were not taken into account in the decision-making process.

The Chancellor of Germany, Otto von Bismarck, was instrumental in organizing and hosting the conference. Bismarck had a vested interest in Africa and wanted Germany to participate in the "scramble" for Africa.

Bismarck, French diplomat Jules Ferry, British politician Edward Stanley, and Portuguese statesman Serpa Pinto were the leading players at the conference.

Speeches and Actions

The conference began with a speech by Bismarck, who emphasized the importance of cooperation among European powers in African colonization. He contended that a lack of a coordinated approach to Africa would result in conflict and bloodshed. Bismarck also proposed the principle of effective occupation, which stated that European countries could claim sovereignty over an African territory only if they effectively controlled it.

The conference then moved on to discuss various proposals for dividing Africa. Britain proposed establishing an African free trade zone, while France and Germany advocated for a more direct division of territory. Eventually, the conference agreed on the General Act of the Berlin Conference, which ignored that Africa was already inhabited by millions of people with their own cultures, traditions, and political systems.

Bismarck's inaugural speech emphasized the importance of regulating European colonization in Africa in order to avoid conflict among European powers. "All powers must have equal rights in African trade, and no power should be denied the right to navigate any of its rivers," he said.

The French representative, Jules Ferry, argued that colonization was a moral obligation and that France had a civilizing mission in Africa. "The higher races have a right over the lower races; it is their duty to civilize the inferior races," he said. He went on to argue that colonizing Africa would provide a market for French goods and create jobs for French workers.

The British representative, Edward Stanley, argued that the British Empire owed it to the "uncivilized" peoples of Africa to spread civilization and Christianity. "We are there as instruments of civilization," he said, "and it is our duty to do everything in our power to spread the blessings of Christianity and civilization among the peoples of Africa."

The Portuguese representative, Serpa Pinto, argued that Portugal had a historical claim to parts of Africa and that African partition should take into account the "historic rights" of European powers. "Portugal has a legitimate and historical right to her African possessions, which are critical to her maritime and commercial expansion," he said.

The conference concluded with the signing of the General Act of the Berlin Conference, which established guidelines for Africa's partition. The act stated that any European power claiming territory in Africa must notify the other European powers and demonstrate that it can effectively control and develop the territory. The act also declared the Congo and Niger rivers open to trade and navigation by all of them.

The Berlin Conference's General Act established the principle of effective occupation as the foundation for the recognition of territorial claims in Africa. It also recognized African states' sovereignty, but only if they were deemed independent and had signed treaties with European powers. The act also made the slave trade and the sale of firearms to Africans illegal.

The Berlin Conference, however, did not mark the end of the Scramble for Africa. In fact, it marked the beginning of a new era of European colonization and exploitation of the continent. The division of Africa among European powers was done with little regard for African cultures, traditions, and borders, which frequently resulted in violent conflict and resistance.

Europe saw Africa as a source of raw materials, cheap labor, and new markets for its products. They believed that Africa was theirs to conquer and that they had the right to colonize it. The conference resulted in Africa's partition, with European powers establishing arbitrary borders and carving out territories for themselves.

The conference was not without controversy, with disagreements between European powers. Portugal, for example, claimed ownership of the Congo River Basin, which Portuguese explorers explored in the 15th century. The other European powers, however, refused to recognize Portugal's claim, and the Congo was eventually divided among the other powers.

Impact on Africa

The Berlin Conference had a significant impact on Africa. The European powers' arbitrary borders divided African communities and created ethnic and cultural conflicts that continue to this day. There were no African representatives at the conference, and their interests and rights were not taken into account in the decision-making process. The European powers seeking to expand their colonial empires in Africa were the main players in the Berlin Conference. Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands were among them. Each country had its own delegation, and they were all competing for a piece of the African continent.

The colonizers plundered Africa's natural resources, enslaving its people, and imposing their own political systems on African societies. The colonizers also suppressed African cultures and traditions, causing Africans to lose their identity and feel dislocated.

The conference had a significant impact on Africa's economic development as well. The colonizers exploited Africa's natural resources but did not invest in infrastructure or industry development. As a result, Africa was left with a legacy of underdevelopment that continues to this day.

Conclusion

The Scramble for Africa, also known as the 1884 Berlin Conference, was a watershed moment in African history. The conference resulted in Africa's partition, the arbitrary drawing of artificial borders that did not correspond to existing ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups, the setting of the stage for future conflicts, and the imposition of European political systems on African societies. Except for Ethiopia and Liberia, almost all of Africa had been colonized by European powers by 1914. The conference had a profound impact, and it shaped Africa's development and history in significant ways. It is critical to remember the Berlin Conference's legacy and work toward a more just and equitable future for Africa.

The Berlin Conference had a long-term impact on Africa and its people. The continent's arbitrary division created artificial borders that did not correspond to existing ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups, laying the groundwork for future conflicts.