The scramble for and partition of Africa in the late 19th century was mostly driven by the following factors:
Economic Interests: European countries were seeking new markets for their industrial goods and new sources of raw materials for their factories. Africa was seen as a potential source of these resources.
Political Ambition: European powers were seeking colonial territories to expand their empires and gain prestige.
Missionary Activities: Christian missionaries saw Africa as a new mission field to spread Christianity.
Technological Advancements: During the Industrial Revolution, European countries had developed new technologies such as steamships, which made it easier to transport goods and people, and firearms that gave the Europeans an advantage over the African armies.
Scientific Racism: European scholars believed that the white race was superior and that it was their duty to civilize the "inferior" Africans.
The Berlin Conference: The conference was held in 1884-85 to discuss how Africa would be divided among the European powers. African leaders were not invited to the conference, and the terms of the partition were imposed upon them.
Overall, the scramble for and partition of Africa was a result of a complex set of factors that were driven by economic, political, and social interests of the European powers