African Entrepreneurship Record

The East African military operations in the western and southern parts of Madagascar Island were very successful. At this time, the British government did not want to create additional complications because they were under severe threat from the French.

During the South African War, France took advantage of the British distraction to capture significant territories of the Imerina Kingdom, extending their colonies into the highland areas of the Imerina Kingdom.

Therefore, at this time, to better focus on addressing the threat from the French, the only way for the British government was to stabilize East Africa, ensuring that East Africa stayed neutral in the struggles between the UK and France.

To be honest, with East Africa’s military presence on Madagascar Island, there was no need to choose sides. They could even directly alter the dynamics on Madagascar Island. However, since the UK and France were the current leaders of the world order, there was no need for East Africa to clash with both countries over the Imerina Kingdom.

In fact, France was equally anxious about East Africa’s military activities on Madagascar Island. However, as the Imerina Kingdom consistently leaned towards the UK, before fully colonizing the Imerina Kingdom, France did not need to engage with East Africa, simply watching as East Africans occupied the western and southern areas of Madagascar Island.

This situation also made the Imerina Kingdom increasingly important in the eyes of the UK and France. As East Africa expanded, there were fewer areas where the UK and France could intervene in Southern Africa. The UK still had the Cape Town colony for support, while France only had control over the French Reunion Island in the South Indian Ocean region.

The competition between the UK and France for the Imerina Kingdom will only intensify, but from an investment perspective, France will eventually gain the upper hand.

The main reason is that the Imerina Kingdom cannot be considered a British colony, so the UK cannot fully support the Imerina Kingdom against the invasion by the French.

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East Africa, in just three months, essentially determined its sphere of influence on Madagascar Island and signed security agreements with both the UK and France, ensuring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Imerina Kingdom.

Next, East Africa will watch the struggle from the sidelines on Madagascar Island, not concerning itself with who ultimately gains control over the Imerina Kingdom.

Although the Imerina Kingdom has a relatively small population, it is not an easy piece of fruit to swallow. Throughout the 19th century, with the governance of several generations of monarchs, the Imerina Kingdom actively learned from advanced European nations and developed a relatively advanced civilization.

The capital of the Imerina Kingdom, Antananarivo, had become a completely European-style city where Christianity had even become the state religion of the Imerina Kingdom.

Furthermore, the population of Antananarivo is not considered small by European standards. In the 18th century, its population surpassed 80,000, and now it has reached into the hundreds of thousands, making it one of the rare large cities throughout the African region.

Before East Africa, except for the colonial capitals of the UK and Portugal, there was no city south of the Sahara that could compare to Antananarivo.

In the previous era, even France took a full thirteen years to colonize the Imerina Kingdom, which shows that the Imerina Kingdom was not a simple indigenous state.

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November 27, 1889.

With the conclusion of the East African military operations on Madagascar Island, East Africa established a Military Control Area on Madagascar Island as a temporary transitional administrative region.

Two brigades were stationed in the northern Marinca and southern Tulear, respectively controlling the western savannah and southern arid grassland areas.

Although they belong to the tropical savannah climate, there are significant differences within this climate. The rainfall in the southern part of Madagascar Island is similar to Dodoma, less than 600 millimeters, whereas the western part is much better, almost equivalent to Mozambique across the strait.

Thus, in the southern part of Madagascar Island, the main economic activity of the Black population is pastoralism, while in the western part, hunting and gathering are predominant.

East Africa is not eager to develop Madagascar Island, as food can be transported by sea from the east to Madagascar Island.

As for the local Black population, they were controlled by East Africa, building military camps, roads, and other infrastructure to ensure the control of the East African Defense Army over the Military Control Area of Madagascar Island.

For the Imerina Kingdom, it was actually the most nervous about this suddenly appearing neighbor, as the Imerina Kingdom was aware of East Africa’s fearsome military performance in the South African region.

Thus, the Imerina Kingdom was extremely tense about this ”evil neighbor” at first, but under the British government’s assurances and after two months of observation, the Imerina Kingdom accepted the East African military presence on Madagascar Island.

At the same time, Prime Minister Reinleyarivoni of the Imerina Kingdom sent a diplomatic mission to visit East Africa, seeking to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Currently, the Imerina Kingdom is under the rule of Queen Ranavalona III, but most of the country’s main policies are devised by her second husband, Reinleyarivoni. During Reinleyarivoni’s period, the Imerina Kingdom became more open and civilized.

However, it was already too late for the Imerina Kingdom to transform at this time, and in addition, it was too weak to break free from the control and aggression of the UK and France.

The entry of East Africa gave the Imerina Kingdom a new opportunity for a breakthrough, hoping to balance relations between the UK, France, and East Africa to achieve the security of the Imerina Kingdom.

November 6, 1889

Just as East Africa had not yet fully completed its military operations on Madagascar Island, the Imerina Kingdom’s diplomatic mission arrived in Dar es Salaam City, where they were received by the East African government.

For this hidden ”great power” in Africa on Madagascar Island, East African officials did not show much interest.

However, East Africa naturally welcomed nations that took the initiative to establish diplomatic relations, especially since the South African War.

The diplomatic climate of East Africa had changed significantly, with more countries choosing to foster good relations with this emerging world power of East Africa.

The United States, which previously had deteriorated relations with East Africa due to racial issues, had also mended diplomatic relations with East Africa.

The Far East Empire and other Asian countries had thoroughly regarded East Africa on par with other great powers such as the UK, France, and Germany, and Japan had once again kept a low profile.

Japan had always held fantasies about the South Ryukyu Islands. At the start of the South African War, it had been restless, but the war’s conclusion surprised Japan. This forced Japan, which had always admired strength, to continue ”keeping its head low.”

At this time, Japan had not yet overcome its inferiority complex, especially after experiencing the trials of war. Although it had gained considerable advantage in the Korean region, it had never confronted the world’s great powers.

At the same time, its national strength was slightly weaker compared to the historical timeline, but Ernst knew that Japan at this time was already qualified to engage with any force except the great powers.

Of course, this is the limit. Japan’s development booster was the war indemnities gained after the First Sino-Japanese War, and before this, even if Japan tried its best to save money, it would not be able to match the world’s great powers.

Of course, countries like the Ottoman Empire or the Far East Empire, while categorized as great powers, can only be considered pseudo-great powers. Despite Japan’s small national size, it had already become the leading maritime power in East Asia.

While the Far East Empire Navy was quite strong, Japan had surpassed it in maritime economy, civilian shipbuilding industry, and other areas, which was an advantage of being an island nation.

However, the true gap between the two countries largely stems from their mindset; the Far East Empire had always maintained a vigilant attitude toward the ocean, with many open ports having been forced open. This attitude persisted, naturally allowing Japan to grow stronger in the Western Pacific region. Had they been more decisive, dealing with Japan a few years earlier, Japan’s fragile economy would not have had the chance to rise again.