| 1844 | The United Kingdom annexes Natal, a region in present-day South Africa. |
| 1848 | France acquires Senegal in West Africa. |
| 1848-1852 | The Great Trek, a migration of Dutch-speaking settlers (Boers) from the British-controlled Cape Colony, leads to the establishment of Boer republics in southern Africa. |
| 1867 | Diamonds are discovered in Griqualand West (modern-day Northern Cape, South Africa), leading to British involvement in the region. |
| 1869 | The Suez Canal is completed, enhancing European access to East Africa. |
| 1870s | European powers, including Britain, France, and Belgium, establish a presence along the West African coast. |
| 1884-1885 | The Berlin Conference is held, where European powers negotiate and establish rules for the colonization of Africa without the input of African nations. |
| 1884 | France gains control over Madagascar. |
| 1884 to 1885 | Portugal and Germany vie for influence in Mozambique and Namibia respectively. |
| 1885 | Leopold II of Belgium claims the Congo Free State as his personal property. |
| 1888 | Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company acquires mineral rights in Mashonaland, present-day Zimbabwe. |
| 1890 | The British South Africa Company establishes British control over Southern Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe). |
| 1890-1894 | The Franco-British struggle over Sudan culminates in the Fashoda Incident, nearly sparking a war. |
| 1897 | Benin City is captured by British forces, leading to the colonization of Nigeria. |
| 1898 | Battle of Omdurman – British forces defeat Sudanese Mahdist forces, allowing Britain to consolidate control over Sudan. |
| 1899-1902 | The Second Boer War takes place between British forces and Boer republics, resulting in British control over the entire region. |
| 1902 | The Herero and Nama genocide begins in German South-West Africa (modern-day Namibia) under German colonial rule. |
| 1904 | France concludes a secret treaty with Spain partitioning Morocco and had also agreed not to oppose Britain’s moves in Egypt in exchange for a free hand in Morocco. |
| 1905 | Germany, insisted upon an open-door policy in the area; and, in a dramatic show of imperial power, the emperor William II visited Tangier and, from his yacht on March 31, 1905, declared for Morocco’s independence and integrity. |
| 1906 | The First Moroccan Crisis is resolved. At the Algeciras Conference, German and other national economic rights were upheld , while the French and Spanish were entrusted with the policing of Morocco. |
| 1911 | The Second Moroccan Crisis: the German gunboat Panther was sent to Agadir on July 1, 1911, to protect German interests during a local native uprising in Morocco. |
