Most European powers governed their colonies using a system of direct rule: They appointed European governors to live in Africa and appoint subordinates to control specific areas or communities. This chain of command could have several layers. For example, France had a chief governor in Dakar and lieutenant governors in the other colonies, and the lieutenants all reported to the chief. These positions of power were held, of course, by Europeans--not native political figures. The closest that Africans under direct rule could get to positions of power was to work as the servants of European authorities.

African people suffered or prospered based on the disposition and personalities of their leaders. An administrator appointed by a French lieutenant governor to rule a small, isolated area of modern-day Niger in west Africa, for example, would have the power to do as he pleased. If he were ambitious and cruel, he could arrest, try, and convict Africans on his own authority, and force them to work in mines or on other projects. If he were kinder, he would try to treat the natives fairly, but he would probably still consider them inferior.

Administrators of more populated areas tended to receive more supervision from their governments, so they were less likely to abuse their power. However, most administrators worked in rural areas, under less supervision.

The African experience of human rights was also dependent on the disposition of the colonial power and its administrators. For example, France was willing to grant more rights to African natives than other colonial powers, like Belgium and Germany. No matter how much access to human rights they had, however, Africans who lived in areas under direct European rule lacked any political power or authority.

Use the Drag and Drop activity below to review the idea of direct European rule in Africa.