African Entrepreneurship Record

After the South African War, the Portuguese war reparations were actually transferred to the British by East Africa, allowing the British to exercise comprehensive control over the Portuguese economy. Coupled with the traditional alliance between the UK and Portugal, the British tacitly allowed Portugal’s colonial expansion in West Africa.

This also served as a buffer between the British and German colonies. As for France, it was naturally impossible for them to strip the Vida colony from Portugal as they did in the past.

In fact, the British would not allow France to do so either. After suffering a huge loss in South Africa, Britain could only intensify competition with France in West Africa; however, France’s power in West Africa was clearly too strong, so the conflict between France and Britain in West Africa was not small.

Ultimately, it was East Africa’s expansion that disrupted the colonial steps of various countries as in the past. According to East Africa’s current territory, the victims include the UK, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, and France.

Britain lost Kenya and Rhodesia, Portugal lost Angola and Mozambique, Germany lost German East Africa and Southwest Africa, Belgium lost the Congo Basin, and France only acquired a third of Madagascar Island.

The only beneficiaries were Italy and Sigmaringen. However, Italy was previously tricked by Ernst, losing the entire Venice and part of Lombardy, and the Pope Country and Naples also regained independence.

This shows East Africa’s role as a ”troublemaker” in world affairs, and in fact, Japan and the United States also suffered at the hands of East Africa, more or less.

Of course, apart from the UK, Portugal, and Japan, other countries had good relations with East Africa, as they could not imagine their previous colonial structures.

It’s also for this reason that French businessmen invest or trade in East Africa. A great power with a land area of 13 million and a population of over 70 million, even a little leakage is enough for many businessmen to make a fortune.

Kross: ”In fact, your company being able to secure this order does have something to do with us. The East African government makes money from us through agricultural products, which gives them the funds to buy advanced industrial equipment from you. Otherwise, relying solely on East Africa’s economy to improve industrial capacity would not be easy.”

Kross wasn’t wrong, as East Africa is currently following the Soviet model, raising funds for industrial development through the scissors difference between industry and agriculture. Of course, this method isn’t uniquely Soviet, it’s just a typical case.

In the early development of industries in Europe and America, there are actually similar examples, with the well-known ’sheep eat men’ movement in the UK. However, in Europe and America, land was mainly concentrated in the hands of landlords, so the manifestations were different. Essentially, it was all about sacrificing the interests of farmers to promote industrial development.

Indeed, sacrificing agriculture is one of the mainstream approaches for countries seeking industrialization, but Europe and America could also achieve the initial accumulation of wealth through foreign colonial plunder and industrial product exports.

East Africa is no exception; however, East Africa’s colonies are now mostly ’localized’, but the damage to the local natives is irreversible. Although East African agriculture has made great progress, it primarily provides funds for industrial development. At the same time, East Africa exports products such as electricity, automobiles, and steel, so the industrialization processes in various countries are similar and not very clean.

Boli certainly understood what Kross was saying, and he smiled, saying: ”It’s the same. It just shows that everyone is benefiting from trade with East Africa. East Africa acquired advanced industrial equipment, and we all made money, getting what we need.”

So who really lost out in the transaction? The answer is the Portuguese, Oranges, Zanzibar people, and the indigenous people of Africa.

As for East African agriculture, although it seems to be losing out, it can only be considered as having gains and losses. After all, East African agriculture also enjoyed the dividends of the era, with land mostly taken by force and labor supplemented by Black people. Now, although the number of Black people is rapidly decreasing, East Africa’s animal power has increased, mechanization is in its infancy, and with the improvement of related ancillary projects, the development of East African agriculture is actually not slower than that of industry. Industry just tends to show results more easily.

”Mr. Kross, as compatriots, why don’t we gather at the Eleventh District tonight and call some more friends, as we overseas French people should look out for each other,” Boli suggested.

The Eleventh District is essentially the red-light district of Dar es Salaam, a place where foreigners generally like to seek entertainment.

”No problem, but I have quite a few acquaintances in Dar es Salaam City, so you’ll spend a lot tonight,” Kross said with a smile.

In fact, the French in East Africa are relatively concentrated, with over 700 permanent residents in Dar es Salaam City alone.

Of course, the main reason for this is that Dar es Salaam City is the largest city in East Africa, offering more opportunities, and another reason is the limited number of ports in East Africa. Additionally, the impact of East Africa’s isolation policy means that no matter how many foreigners there are, they can only be concentrated in a few coastal cities.

The number of such cities is limited, so most foreigners are currently mainly distributed in Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Mogadishu, Kismayo, Bela, New Hamburg Port, and along the West Coast at Luanda, Benguela.

The foreigners on the West Coast are mainly Germans, concentrated in Luanda and Benguela. As for other West Coast cities, such as Cabinda, the second largest economy after Luanda, there aren’t many Germans because the local railway hasn’t opened yet, and due to being located in a tropical rainforest, Germans prefer to invest in the southern Luanda and Benguela.

As for businessmen from other countries, aside from the Portuguese, there are almost none permanently residing at the East African West Coast ports.

As for Austria, they certainly wouldn’t go so far to invest in the West Coast when they can take the shorter route through the Suez Canal. The eastern part of East Africa is closer and has a stronger coastal economy.

Of course, another reason Germans focus on the West Coast is that their Cameroon colony is not far from the East African West Coast. Thus, developing Cameroon or other German West African colonies requires close support from East Africa.

After all, Germany is located far north on the European continent, and traveling from the mainland to various West African colonies means passing through British and French waters, which isn’t very safe.

Moreover, some goods needed for colonial development can be imported directly from East Africa, saving a lot of costs, given the proximity of East Africa.

Investing in East Africa is not a bad thing, and Germany is optimistic about East Africa’s development and construction, especially in the Angola region. Early arrangements can also deepen Germany’s influence in East Africa.

Currently, East Africa is an important source of new raw materials and a market for Germany, with great potential. Shipping from East Africa’s West Coast to Germany is the most convenient and least likely to be constrained by the Suez Canal and the Gibraltar Strait.

This can be seen as a strategic foresight from Germany, just like in the past when the Far East Empire developed ports and land routes in places like Pakistan and Myanmar to ensure energy security.

Although it may seem of little use at ordinary times, and even a money-losing venture, when there’s a blockade or war one day, it may play an important role.

Both the Gibraltar Strait and the Suez Canal are under British control, and naturally, Germany doesn’t want to be easily constrained by others. In the past, Germany’s construction of the Baghdad railway likely considered breaking through other countries’ maritime blockades via land.

The emergence of East Africa just gave Germany another option. During wartime, it would be quite difficult to block trade between the East African West Coast and Germany’s mainland, as there are no advantageous geographical conditions like the Suez Canal, Gibraltar, and the Mand Strait.