Protectorates in Africa

Protectorates in Africa were territories where a local ruler remained in place but operated under the guidance or control of an external country, usually European. The external country protected the protectorate from other powers and often handled defense and foreign affairs. In return, the protectorate's government usually had limited independence and was influenced by the external power’s interests. This arrangement allowed European nations to expand their influence and control resources without fully colonizing the territory. Many African protectorates were established during the 19th and early 20th centuries as part of European imperial expansion.