Economic Factors that led to the Scramble and Partition of Africa

A map of colonial Africa

• New industrialists needed raw materials for their industries which were readily available in Africa
• The raw materials included rubber, timber, gold, cotton among others
• The discovery of diamonds at Kimberly in Southern Africa led to many European powers rushing to Africa to sign treaties with local chiefs
• There was a great depression in Europe and Africa seemed to provide a way out of the depression
• The need for new markets for goods produced in industries also led to the scramble for Africa
• Most European countries followed Britain in industrialization and began imposing high duties on imports which prevented most countries from exporting their goods across Africa
• Africa remained the only option for exporting as its markets could be controlled by mother countries
• Industrialists earned huge profits from their factories and mines, so there was need to invest their profits and Africa provided the investment base
•  Investments in Africa was more profitable that in Europe especially in the Kimberly diamond mines which was double or even treble sometimes
• Population increased in industrialized countries and surplus populations were settled in Africa
• Industrialization resulted in invention of new technology which enabled industrialized countries to conquer more lands,  for example, the steam ship made movement of Europeans to Africa easier
  
• Merchants, traders, explorers and missionaries who were already living in Africa like Robert Moffat persuaded local chiefs who trusted them to sign treaties to sell their states
• Cheap and strong labour was also readily available in Africa to further the activities of the colonial masters

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