REASONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF GERMAN DIRECT RULE IN AFRICA
GERMAN DIRECT RULE
It was a direct system of administration in which the European governed the natives (Africans) directly by using European officials and the people who happened to maltreat the natives, for example in East Africa (German East Africa) the Germans used the ex-Arab and Swahili former slave dealers to govern the natives. The African (native) permanent authorities were abandoned (not involved) in administration. They were put at the same level as the ruled class.
During the introduction of colonialism in Africa, almost all Europeans used it for a short while (in a few months) later, other Europeans used to other systems of administration such as indirect rule and the direct rule system in Africa.
The Germans applied the direct rule since the time when they started colonizing Africa. They applied the direct rule in German (Deustch) East Africa (Tanganyika), Cameroon, Togoland and in German South West Africa (Namibia).
THE REASONS FOR THE GERMAN DIRECT RULE
Presence of willing personnel: They had an enough number of Germans who were ready to work and a reasonable number of former “ex” slave traders who were ready to assist the German officials. For example the Akidas, the Liwali’s and the Jumbes in German East Africa.
They didn’t trust the native rules: The Germans experienced the natives’ resistance during the imposition of colonialism in Africa. They had to encounter a number of large and small scale resistance from the Africans. This made the Germans to isolate the African leaders in administration.
Maximum exploitation: They also wanted to maximize the exploitation of African natural and human resources. This could be achieved by forcing the Africans to work in a brutal way.
German supremacy: The Germans believed that other races aren’t civilized enough to be the administrators. This made them despise even the native who sided with them in the wars of colonial occupation e.g. The Sangu. They considered other races to be uncultured enough to be the administrator.
Brutality and harshness: The Germans preferred to use the system which won’t compromise with Africans and will allow them (the German) to maltreat the natives. The Africans were tortured, sometimes jailed without regular trials. This system made the native’s fear the Germans and disagree to each of their demands.
Employment: The direct rule system was a means of creating more employment chances to the Germans in Africa. The increase of population in German multiplied demographic problems such as the lack of employment chances in Germany.
Suppression of African resistances: Direct rule was a means of suppressing Africans resistance through weakening the African rulers politically, militarily and economically.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GERMAN DIRECT RULE
Existence of brutality and harshness: The German officers and their subjects i.e. the Akidas, Jumbes etc, maltreated the natives. e.g. Torturing them in hard labour, imprisoning them with at regular trial and so on.
Absence of native local puppets: This resulted from abandonment of Africa native permanent rulers (leaders) in administration. The Germans used the imported administrators such as Akida’s and Jumbes.
Existence of violence: The German colonial states were more violent due to Germans brutal and harsh actions to the natives. The Africans always reacted against Germans tribulation to them.
Difficult mobilization of African labor: The Africans developed a negative attitude against the Germans and their subordinates who maltreated them. E.g. Akidas and Jumbes. The Germans supervised the natives in a harsh way.
The system lacked flexibility: The Germans treated the natives in a uniform way that didn’t respect the native’s cultural practice. They didn’t paramount the natives’ rulers; they didn’t encourage the native way of communication and so on. To some extent, it hindered the perpetuation of tribal division in Africa.
Expenses: The colonial government had to incur a lot of expenses to manage the German officials and their subordinates. This was because the administration team was very big, also they had to use a lot of money to handle the native’s resistance.
Insecurity: The natives lived under a shadow of threats from the ruling class. They were extraordinary intimidated by the colonial government, officials and the assistants. The natives lived under great fear and torture.
Violation of African culture: The usual ways of the natives were diverged e.g. the imposition of forced cash crops production, forced labor, land alienation etc. made the natives adopt the new of life.
