Intense African distribution between 1880 and 1914.
The great colonizing powers try to obtain the maximum colonies:

1. United Kingdom: Attempt to control Africa from north to south through the axis: Cairo-The Cape.
2. France attempt to dominate Africa from east to west through the Senegal-Djibouti axis.
3. Germany control of Cameroon, German East Africa and south-west Africa.
4. Portugal: Angola Mozambique.
5. Belgium: the Belgian Congo
6. Italy: Libya, Eritrea Somalia.
7. Spain: North of Morocco, River of Gold (Río de Oro) and Guinea.

Main problem: The confrontation between the powers by the control of the colonies.

Solution: Berlin Conference 1884-1885 Bismarck instances establishing:

• The control of the coast justifies the right of occupation of the interior
• The Niger and Congo rivers are free-sailing.
• The Congo is under Belgian rule (personal control of the Monarch Leopold I

Despite the agreements the disputes followed, the most serious took place between Frenchmen and British in Fachoda because of Nile control in order to dominate the African axis.