This month commemorates 140 years since the Berlin Conference, during which European powers divided Africa without indigenous input, seeking to control its rich natural resources. As industrial growth surged in the late 19th century, nations like Britain, France, and Belgium claimed vast territories, leading to disputes among themselves. The conference aimed to prevent conflicts over possessions among European nations, yet it failed to represent or protect African interests. This period laid the foundation for colonial rule and exploitation of Africa's resources, impacting the continent's future significantly.
The Berlin conference, led by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, was pivotal in formalizing European claims over African territories, sidelining indigenous populations in the scramble for resources.
No African nations were invited or represented at the Berlin conference, highlighting the disregard for indigenous authority and the prioritization of European interests in Africa.
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