Other Countries
Belgium
Belgium, a previously small and unimportant European country, decided to put itself on the map when the age of imperialism arrived. They claimed areas which are now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. In the Congo, the white colonialists were condescending to the indigenous peoples and owned most of the power, leading to a bitter resentment and eventual overthrow of Belgium occupation. In Rwanda and Burundi, Belgium emphasized the preexisting prejudices by creating a strict caste system that no individual could move up or down in. As a result, the lowest class was heavily discriminated upon, which contributed to the Rwandan genocide in the 1990s.
Germany
Germany claimed lands in Kamerun, East Africa, South-West Africa, and Togoland. The German government never fully immersed the country in colonialism in Africa, though they did make enough of an imprint that the effects remain to be seen today. Most countries were bettered by education and economic development, but while the Germans were still occupying, life for the original citizens did not improve.
Italy
Like most countries, Italy felt that, in order to become a modern state, they must have colonies. Italy laid claims to four countries: Libya, Eritrea, Somaliland, and Ethiopia. After a much contested battle, Italy gave up Ethiopia when they were badly defeated by the Ethiopian army. The only lasting effect of Italy’s tenure in Africa was that many African colonies were given hope that a revolution might overthrow their oppressors, because the Ethiopian defeat of Italian troops was the first instance where an African nation defeated a European power in the Age of Imperialism.
Spain
Though Spain was one of the first global powers, their exploration and imperialism efforts were mainly concentrated on the “New World”, and not particularly in Africa. The Spanish did set up bases in Africa when they explored the tip of the continent, but none of them had any real presence. When the Age of Imperialism came about in the late 19th and early 20th century, the Spanish Empire was in a state of decline; many of its territories had been reclaimed, indigenous people had stated their independence, and the rest of Europe had caught up with them. Therefore, while they still acquired lands in Africa, like Sahara or Morocco, they did not exert their power as much as they did in the Americas, though they still left behind a legacy of harsh treatment, prejudice, and economic development like most European powers.
Portugal
Much like Spain, the Portuguese Empire hit its peak before the scramble for Africa began. Along with the Industrial Revolution came superior weapons and better armies, due to food and supplies surplus. Therefore, Portugal had lost most of its colonies in South America and Asia by the Age of Imperialism. Most of Portugal’s claims in Africa lay near the southern tip, across the equator, like Guinea, Angola, and Mozambique. Britain, however, had possibly the most power of any European country in Africa and wanted to find a route to India through Africa, and so cut a swath through Portuguese colonies. The lasting effect of Portugal is seen only in the economic and political developments during and since that time period.