Colonial Administration Systems

Colonial Administrative System

Colonial administrative systems were the ways of controlling and maintaining colonial power in colonies after the establishment of colonialism. In the early 20th century, the process of conquest and partition of Africa were almost completed by European powers, only Ethiopia and Liberia escaped from colonial control.

Colonialists including Germany, France, Britain, Portugal, Belgium etc. after colonizing African countries they introduced different administrative systems in their colonies depended on the following:

1. The nature of the people in the colonies, such as being cooperative, military, strong, weak etc.
2. Challenges encountered during acquiring colonies i.e. by strong resistance, collaboration etc.
3. The character of colonial power. For example, Germany preferred direct rule while Britain preferred indirect rule and France preferred assimilation policy.

Reasons Why Colonialists Introduced Different Administrative Systems after the Establishment Colonial Rule

1. To change the form or tradition of the African system of administration.
2. To maintain or ensure effective occupation/ control of the colony socially, politically and economically.
3. Maximization of profit through colonial exploitation by setting up a system of administration which favored colonialists.
4. To ensure peace and harmony in colonies after faced reactions/ resistances during the establishment of colonial rule.
5. To prepare the suitable and conducive environment for establishment of colonial economy.
6. To fulfill the agreement reached during the Berlin conference of 1884-1885 on effective occupation of colonies.

Types / Forms of Colonial Administrative Systems

1. Direct rule
2. Indirect rule
3. Assimilation policy
4. Association policy

Direct Rule

1. Direct rule was the form/type of colonial administrative system applied by the Germans whereby Africans were ruled directly without local rulers' support.
2. It was applied in Namibia, Tanganyika, and Togo, among others.

Indirect Rule

1. Indirect rule was the form of administrative system applied by the British whereby Africans were ruled indirectly through local rulers' support.
2. It was applied in Uganda, Nigeria, etc.

Assimilation Policy

1. This was the French administrative system applied in her colonies, which aimed to turn Africans into French citizens.
2. Africans who were assimilated (changed/turned) to be French men were called Assimilators.

Association Policy

1. This was the French administrative system that replaced the assimilation policy.
2. The association policy did not aim at turning Africans into French citizens; instead, it considered and respected African culture.