<P> Established empires, notably Britain, Portugal and France, had already claimed for themselves vast areas of Africa and Asia, and emerging imperial powers like Italy and Germany had done likewise on a smaller scale . With the dismissal of the aging Chancellor Bismarck by Kaiser Wilhelm II, the relatively orderly colonisation became a frantic scramble . The 1885 Berlin Conference, initiated by Bismarck to establish international guidelines for the acquisition of African territory, formalised this "New Imperialism". Between the Franco - Prussian War and the Great War, Europe added almost 9 million square miles (23,000,000 km2)--one - fifth of the land area of the globe--to its overseas colonial possessions . </P> <P> Vincent Khapoya notes the great self - esteem some European states felt at possessing territory many times larger than themselves . He adds the significant contribution made by Africans to struggle among the Great Powers . He states that one million people of African descent fought for the Allies in World War I and two million in World War II . </P> <P> Khapoya considers the colonisers' administrative styles . "The French, the Portuguese, the Germans and the Belgians exercised a highly centralised type of administration called' direct rule ."' The British sought to rule by identifying local power holders and encouraging or forcing these to administer for the British Empire . This was indirect rule . </P> <P> France ruled from France, appointing chiefs individually without considering traditional criteria, but rather loyalty to France . France established two large colonial federations in Africa, French West Africa and French Equatorial Africa . France appointed officials, passed laws and had to approve any measures passed by colonial assemblies . </P>

Why did european countries set up colonies in africa