Berlin Conference (1884-85)

The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 was a meeting where European powers divided Africa among themselves, aiming to establish rules for colonization. No African leaders were involved. The conference formalized claims based on effective occupation, leading to arbitrary borders that disregarded existing ethnic and cultural divisions. This division spurred intense competition among European nations and had lasting impacts on Africa’s political, social, and economic development, often causing conflicts and challenges that persist today.