Scramble for Africa

1881 – 1914 · Era in Congo Free State, French West Africa, French Equatorial Africa, German East Africa, German South West Africa, Khedivate of Egypt, Ethiopia, Mahdist State, Morocco, South African Republic, Orange Free State, Liberia, Sultanate of Zanzibar, Sokoto Caliphate, Asante Empire

Invasion, partition and colonisation of almost all of Africa by European powers. By 1914 only Ethiopia and Liberia were independent.

On the map Overview Contemporaries

Key people

Otto von Bismarck participant

Leopold II of Belgium participant

Cecil Rhodes participant

Participants

Battles and events 24

Key events

French conquest of Tunisia April 24 – December 23, 1881 · French victory
Anglo-Egyptian War July 11 – September 13, 1882 · British victory
- Egyptian Expedition (1882) June 1882 – July 1882 · American victory
- Bombardment of Alexandria July 11–13, 1882 · British victory
- Battle of Kafr El Dawwar August 5, 1882 · Egyptian victory
Franco-Hova Wars December 1883 – September 30, 1895 · French victory
- First Madagascar expedition May 1883 – December 1885 · French victory
- Second Madagascar expedition December 1894 – September 1895 · French victory
Berlin Conference November 15, 1884 – February 26, 1885
Atrocities in the Congo Free State February 26, 1885 – November 15, 1908
Anglo-Zanzibar War August 27, 1896 · British victory
Fashoda Incident September 18 – November 3, 1898
War of the Golden Stool March 1900 – September 30, 1900 · British victory
Herero and Nama genocide 1904 – 1908
Herero and Nama uprising 1904 – 1908 · German victory, systematic extermination of native peoples
- Battle of Namutoni January 28, 1904 · Fort Namutoni destroyed
- Battle of Waterberg August 11, 1904 · German victory
Maji Maji Rebellion July 1905 – August 1907
Italo-Turkish War September 29, 1911 – October 18, 1912 · Italian victory
- Battle of Preveza (1911) September 29–30, 1911 · Italian victory
- Battle of Tripoli (1911) October 10, 1911 · Italian victory
- Battle and massacre at Shar al-Shatt October 23, 1911
- Battle of Benghazi (1911) November 28, 1911 · Italian victory
- Battle of Ain Zara December 4, 1911 · Italian victory
- Battle of Tobruk (1911) December 22, 1911 · Ottoman–Senussi victory
- Battle of Kunfuda Bay January 7–8, 1912 · Italian victory
- Battle of Beirut (1912) February 24, 1912 · Italian victory
- Battle of Rhodes (1912) May 4–16, 1912 · Italian victory
- Battle of Misrata (1912) July 9, 1912 · Italian victory
- Battles of Zanzur (1912) September 20, 1912 · Italian victories

1881 1 event

French conquest of Tunisia April 24 – December 23, 1881 · French victory

1882 2 events

Mandingo Wars 1882 – 1898 · French victory
- Battles of Woyowoyanko April 2, 1882 · Wassoulou victory
Anglo-Egyptian War July 11 – September 13, 1882 · British victory
- Egyptian Expedition (1882) June 1882 – July 1882 · American victory
- Bombardment of Alexandria July 11–13, 1882 · British victory
- Battle of Kafr El Dawwar August 5, 1882 · Egyptian victory

1883 1 event

Franco-Hova Wars December 1883 – September 30, 1895 · French victory
- First Madagascar expedition May 1883 – December 1885 · French victory
- Second Madagascar expedition December 1894 – September 1895 · French victory

1884 1 event

Berlin Conference November 15, 1884 – February 26, 1885

1885 1 event

Atrocities in the Congo Free State February 26, 1885 – November 15, 1908

1888 1 event

Abushiri revolt 1888 – 1889

1890 1 event

First Franco-Dahomean War February 21 – October 4, 1890 · French victory

1892 1 event

Second Franco-Dahomean War July 4, 1892 – January 15, 1894 · French victory

1896 2 events

Anglo-Zanzibar War August 27, 1896 · British victory
Battle of Adibo December 4, 1896 · German victory

1897 1 event

Benin Expedition of 1897 February 9–21, 1897 · British victory

1898 1 event

Fashoda Incident September 18 – November 3, 1898

1899 1 event

Rabih War July 17, 1899 – August 23, 1901 · French victory
- Battle of Kousséri April 22, 1900 · French victory

1900 2 events

Dervish War 1900 – 1920 · British-Italian victory
- Somaliland campaign (1920) January 1920 – February 9, 1920 · British and allied victory
War of the Golden Stool March 1900 – September 30, 1900 · British victory

1901 1 event

Anglo-Aro War November 1901 · British victory

1904 2 events

Herero and Nama genocide 1904 – 1908
Herero and Nama uprising 1904 – 1908 · German victory, systematic extermination of native peoples
- Battle of Namutoni January 28, 1904 · Fort Namutoni destroyed
- Battle of Waterberg August 11, 1904 · German victory

1905 1 event

Maji Maji Rebellion July 1905 – August 1907

1906 2 events

Bambatha Rebellion 1906
Wadai War 1906 · French victory

1911 2 events

Kert campaign August 24, 1911 – May 15, 1912 · Spanish victory
Italo-Turkish War September 29, 1911 – October 18, 1912 · Italian victory
- Battle of Preveza (1911) September 29–30, 1911 · Italian victory
- Battle of Tripoli (1911) October 10, 1911 · Italian victory
- Battle and massacre at Shar al-Shatt October 23, 1911
- Battle of Benghazi (1911) November 28, 1911 · Italian victory
- Battle of Ain Zara December 4, 1911 · Italian victory
- Battle of Tobruk (1911) December 22, 1911 · Ottoman–Senussi victory
- Battle of Kunfuda Bay January 7–8, 1912 · Italian victory
- Battle of Beirut (1912) February 24, 1912 · Italian victory
- Battle of Rhodes (1912) May 4–16, 1912 · Italian victory
- Battle of Misrata (1912) July 9, 1912 · Italian victory
- Battles of Zanzur (1912) September 20, 1912 · Italian victories