On November 15, 1884, the Berlin Conference convened in Berlin, Germany, under the leadership of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Representatives from 14 European countries and the United States gathered to formalize the rules for the colonization and partition of Africa—a process often referred to as the “Scramble for Africa.”

Over the following months (the conference lasted until February 26, 1885), European powers negotiated and divided African territory among themselves without the presence or consent of any African nations.

This event set the stage for nearly every region of Africa—except Ethiopia and Liberia—to fall under European colonial rule by the early 20th century, leading to widespread exploitation, cultural disruption, and long-term consequences still felt today.