Stan B.’s Post

On 15th November in 1884, The Berlin Conference opened, The Partition of Africa (Berlin Conference) And the Aftermath. It 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 European countries would claim colonial land. 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. 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. #berlinconference #scrambleforafrica #colonialisation #africa #africanexploitation

On 15th November in 1884, The Berlin Conference opened, The Partition of Africa (Berlin Conference) And the Aftermath. It 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 European countries would claim colonial land. 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. 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. #berlinconference #scrambleforafrica #colonialisation #africa #africanexploitation

THE BERLIN CONFERENCE The Berlin Conference of 1884–1885 met on 15 November 1884 and, after an adjournment, concluded on 26 February 1885 with the signature of a General Act[1] regulating European colonization and trade in Africa during the New Imperialism period. The conference was organized by Otto von Bismarck, the first chancellor of Germany, at the request of Leopold II of Belgium. The General Act of Berlin can be seen as the formalisation of the Scramble for Africa that was already in full swing. Some scholars, however, warn against an overemphasis on its role in the colonial partitioning of Africa, and draw attention to bilateral agreements concluded before and after the conference. According to a 2024 study, the conference only set the borders for the Congo region (those borders were later revised). The study finds that "most of Africa’s borders were not initially formed until after the 1884–85 Berlin Conference... most did not take their final form until over two decades later." (Source: Internet)

On November 15, 1884, thirteen European countries and the U.S. gathered in Berlin, Germany, to begin the Berlin Conference for the Partition of Africa. The conference was hosted by the first German chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck, in an effort to resolve disputes amongst European countries over territorial possessions in Africa — in what was known as the “Scramble for Africa.” The conference lasted until February 26, 1885. Every concerned party was represented at the conference, except Africa, the continent about which the conference was held. The arrogance of those European nations at the Berlin Conference was unsurpassed and bemusing; for to have decided an entire continent’s future in its absence was a malady, whose repercussions are still being felt across Africa in 2024 — about 139 years later. Britain, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, and Belgium were some of the big players during the “Scramble for Africa” — an era of colonial and imperial dominance and arrogance by European nations in search of territories and natural resources across Africa, a continent rich in both land and natural resources. Today, along with the poor governance of African leaders and the disunity amongst Africans, the impacts of colonialism and imperialism are widespread across the African continent, and have a significant effect on Africa. #History #WorldHistory #GlobalEvents #Africa #Europe #BerlinConference #AfricanHistory #Germany #Britain #Belgium #Portugal #Spain #Italy

Today we commemorate 140 years since representatives of 13 nations in Europe and the United States met on 15 November 1884 in Berlin to lay down rules to guide them in the scramble for Africa. The signing of *The General Act of Berlin* on 26 February 1885 formalised European colonisation of Africa. Contrary to widespread belief, the delegates did not sit at a table with pencils and rulers to draw current African boundaries. After agreeing on how they will possess territories in Africa, it took two decades to draw boundaries of their possessions, which were fully recognized and adopted by African leaders in July 1964 in Cairo. Since then African leaders have fully committed to respect these colonial boundaries despite having been drawn in the interests of Europeans. Ironically, we continue to blame these colonial boundaries for being sources of disputes between African countries yet we have declared them sacrosanct and inviolable. It's absurd to continue blaming Europeans for 60 years for engaging in an act that suited their interests while doing nothing to remake African boundaries to reflect African interests. It's only on current African boundaries where colonial history persists and is passionately celebrated by Africans. As we acknowledge this historic day, let's also remember that African boundaries are now African and Africans bear the primary responsibility of making them to work for Africa. No more blaming Berlin conference of 15 November 1884--26 February 1885 for our inability to transform colonial boundaries to African boundaries.

🌍 More BRICS Expansion Likely🌍 📈 In 2025, member nations will deliberate on welcoming new full-fledged members and setting criteria for partner countries. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, there’s significant interest from countries in the Global East seeking closer relations with BRICS. 🌏 🤝🌐Stay tuned as this story develops! #BRICS #GlobalRelations #InternationalPartnerships #EmergingMarkets #EconomicGrowth https://lnkd.in/e8KMKvnX

The South Caucasus: A New Strategic Space? Politique étrangère, Vol. 89, No. 3, Fall 2024 By: Gaïdz MINASSIAN 10/09/2024 The states of the South Caucasus are trying to find their footing in an increasingly fragmented international landscape. Beyond regional issues such as the future of democracy in Georgia and peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, global rivalries between the major powers are intensifying over how the region might best be opened up: should the South Caucasus be open to all, and thus to the West, or is it the preserve of the Eurasian powers?

The European race for colonialism made Germany start launching expeditions of its own, which frightened both British and French statesmen. Hoping to soothe the brewing conflict, Belgian King Leopold II convinced France and Germany that common trade in Africa was in the best interests of all three countries. Under support from the British and the initiative of Portugal, Otto von Bismarck, the Chancellor of Germany, called on representatives of 13 nations in Europe as well as the US to take part in the Berlin Conference in 1884 to work out a joint policy on the African continent. The conference was opened on November 15, 1884 - February 26, 1885. The number of plenipotentiaries varied per nation, but these 14 countries sent representatives to attend the Berlin Conference and sign the Berlin Act: The US reserved the right to decline or to accept the conclusions of the conference. Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Britain, Italy, and Portugal. The conference provided an opportunity to channel latent European hostilities towards one another outward; provide new areas for helping the European powers expand in the face of rising American, Russian, and Japanese interests; and form constructive dialogue to limit future hostilities. In Africa, colonialism was introduced across nearly the continent. When African independence was regained after WWII, it was in the form of fragmented states. The Scramble for Africa sped up after the Conference, the European powers had to take effective possession by the principle of effectivity. In central Africa, expeditions were dispatched to coerce traditional rulers into signing treaties. Bedouin- and Berber-ruled states in the Sahara and the Sahel were overrun by the French in several wars by the beginning of WWI. The British moved up from South Africa and down from Egypt and conquered states such as the Mahdist State and the Sultanate of Zanzibar having defeated the Zulu Kingdom in South Africa in 1879, moved on to subdue and dismantle the independent Boer republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

Cuba confident in BRICS’ successful work — deputy PM Ricardo Cabrisas noted that Cuba welcomes the final declaration of the BRICS Summit in Kazan HAVANA, November 8/ Cuba hails the final declaration of the BRICS Summit in Kazan and is confident in the group’s successful work, Cuba’s Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas said. "We welcome the final declaration of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, which envisaged Cuba and some other countries’ accession to the association as partner countries," he said at a meeting with his visiting Russian counterpart, Dmitry Chernyshenko. "We believe in the successful work of this association, which is currently chaired by Russia." Cabrisas and Chernyshenko are co-chairs of the Russian-Cuban intergovernmental commission on trade-and-economic and scientific-and-technical cooperation. #business #finance #financialservices