European countries established colonies in Africa during the 19th century primarily due to economic, strategic, and political reasons. The expanding industrial economies in Europe required a stable supply of raw materials such as palm oil, rubber, cotton, tin, and minerals from Africa to fuel their industries. Additionally, Africa offered new markets for European manufactured goods. The Berlin Conference of 1884-85 formalized the scramble for Africa, where European powers divided the continent into territorial possessions to exploit resources and establish control. Technological advances, such as the anti-malaria drug quinine and superior military technology, enabled Europeans to venture into and dominate the African interior, which was previously difficult due to hostile disease environments and resistance from African societies. European powers also aimed to extend their geopolitical influence and control strategic trade routes, such as those linking the Suez Canal to southern Africa and the Sahel region to the Nile. The colonization was justified by a belief in European racial superiority and a mission to "civilize" Africa, though the underlying motive was economic exploitation and imperial power expansion.
