Mesâil-i Afrika: The Berlin Conference and the Ottoman Empire’s Expanding Perception of Africa

Extended Summary

This article, marking the 140th anniversary of the 1884–85 Berlin Conference, examines the Ottoman Empire’s engagement with Africa, focusing on its participation in the 1884–1885 Berlin Conference—a pivotal moment that marked the formalization of European colonial control over the continent. By critically engaging with existing literature on the Ottoman role in the conference, the study contributes to the re-evaluation of late 19th-century Ottoman African policies within the broader context of colonialism. It argues that the Berlin Conference provided not only a diplomatic arena for the empire but also opened new avenues for discussing the multifaceted nature of Ottoman involvement in Africa, beyond the binary narratives of colonizer and colonized. The research demonstrates that the Ottoman Empire’s interest in Africa during this period extended far beyond its directly governed territories. It adopted a multilayered foreign policy approach, carefully monitoring political and diplomatic developments across various parts of the continent. A key conceptual framework proposed in this article is the term “Mesâil-i Afrika” (“African Affairs”), which frequently appears in Ottoman archival sources from the post-conference period. This phrase reflects the empire’s expanding geopolitical awareness and its attempt to maintain a legitimate presence on the international stage. The recurring use of the term in diplomatic correspondence suggests that Ottoman concerns included not only political and military interests, but also the preservation of religious and cultural influence in Africa. Archival evidence reveals that Ottoman diplomats actively engaged with Muslim actors and political authorities across the continent, including both traditional Ottoman provinces and more distant regions such as East Africa. Furthermore, the study explores how Ottoman cartographic practices in the aftermath of the Berlin Conference offer visual testimony to this expanding imperial awareness. Numerous maps translated from French and German and published in Istanbul illustrate the strategic and symbolic importance attributed to Africa. These maps are notable not only for their content but also for the terminological choices made in their legends. While European territories in Africa were labeled as “colonies” or “possessions,” Ottoman domains were referred to with terms such as “Memâlik-i Şâhâne” (Imperial Domains) or “Afrikâ-yı Osmânî” (Ottoman Africa), emphasizing sovereignty and legitimacy. These visual and linguistic choices reinforce the view that the Ottoman Empire sought to position itself as a lawful and historical actor in Africa, distinct from European colonial powers. In sum, it argues that the Berlin Conference and its aftermath enabled the Ottoman Empire to reconceptualize its relationship with Africa. Through diplomacy, cartography, and archival discourse, the empire developed a unique framework of engagement...