Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 369 Governor-General of East Africa
A horse-drawn carriage was speeding through the streets of Tehran, with pedestrians swerving to avoid it for fear of being hit. Keen observers noticed that the emblem on the carriage was the coat of arms of Iran and East Africa.

As Amir left Gulestan Palace and prepared to return to the government building, he also saw the carriage.

The carriage stopped at the palace gate, and Yermak Saeed, the newly appointed governor of Iran in East Africa, stepped down.

"Great Vizier!" Yermak saw Amir and went up to greet him.

"Your Excellency, I wonder what has made you return in such a hurry?"

“Something terrible has happened. I must see the Shah.”

Before he could finish speaking, Yermak was about to rush in. Amir and Abdullah stopped him.

“Don’t be impulsive. We’ll go with you. What is it that requires us to see the Shah?”

Again in the corridor, Yermak told the two ministers about the matter.

Iran's expansion in East Africa has involved not only Portugal but also Black tribes. In recent years, Iran has also expelled many Black people who followed a road into the tribes west of Lake Naser al-Din, becoming slaves of the local chiefs.

To the west of Lake Nasserdin lie Buganda, Benyoro, Toro, Ankola, Rwanda, and the Kingdom of Burundi. Abundant rainfall and fertile soil have fostered a relatively dense and stable population, exceeding the typical situation in sub-Saharan Africa.

Buganda, with its moist and fertile land, boasts a dense and relatively large population. Its main characteristic is a highly commercial foreign policy, seeking to control the region's economic resources, driven by a military culture.

Even before the Iranian invasion, coastal merchants had begun to penetrate inland with their caravans. Many Niamwezi became transporters for wealthy Arab and Indian merchants, but conflicts with these newcomers were inevitable, especially when the large influx of coastal caravans strained the food supply of local communities.

Iran and these tribes also engaged in friendly trade, with a significant amount of trade conducted through Lake Naser al-Din. This trade route transported gold, ivory, gems, minerals, and slaves, enabling African countries to obtain rare luxury goods and necessities such as textiles, carpets, porcelain, perfumes, dates, and salt from the outside world. The introduction of production tools and technologies from abroad also boosted the local economy. Simultaneously, it also funded tribal conflicts, allowing some to profit from the infighting.

Everything was fine until, in the southern region, black people within Portugal launched multiple attacks against him, killing many Iranians. Iran began a large-scale expulsion of tribal blacks, but they discovered that some of them were now armed with firearms.

This is no small matter; it seems some countries are planning to take action against Iran. I wonder who it could be—Britain? Portugal?

"This matter is indeed of great importance. Has it had any impact elsewhere?"

"Not yet, but just in case, we should still inform the Shah."

Seeing the two men return, along with the Governor-General of East Africa, Nasserdin sensed that things might not be going well. "Tell me," he said, "what situation warrants your personal presence as Governor-General of East Africa?"

After hearing about the situation in East Africa, Naserdin felt that the British must be involved.

The relationship between Britain and Portugal can be described as that of father and son. During the Napoleonic Wars, Lisbon was a crucial port for the British army's counterattack against Spain. A large amount of aid was transported to the front lines from here.

Meanwhile, the alliance between Britain and Portugal is the oldest and longest-lasting alliance in European history, spanning nearly four centuries from 1373 to the present. The Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1810 affirmed British commercial privileges in Portugal, strengthening bilateral relations.

Economically, British goods enjoyed low tariffs in Portugal, which suppressed Portuguese industry and made the Portuguese economy dependent on Britain. Portugal became an economic vassal of Britain, its industry suppressed, but the elite class accepted this dependence.

So, on the surface, Portugal and Iran have some conflicts. In reality, it's a contest between Iran and Britain in Africa.

“Shah, what should we do?” Yermak asked.

"Don't worry about them for now, just maintain the current situation. Portugal's finances are in dire straits, they certainly won't explore further. Send out more expeditions, preferably deeper along the river."

Additionally, let's see if we can send more people to East Africa. This would expand our strength; we reportedly already have hundreds of thousands of people in British territory.

The Shah spoke, and the three prepared to act according to his plan. The colonization of Africa was still not a major interest for most countries; Britain and France had already set their sights on the Americas, and Prussia and Austria were still vying for German supremacy. Therefore, only Iran was seriously exploring Africa.

During Iran's colonization of East Africa, small-scale farming was one aspect, while land acquisition by nobles was another. Members of the royal family used their privileges to acquire vast tracts of land, which they then converted into plantations or livestock farms. Cotton, coffee, tea, and sugarcane became their agricultural products. Raising cattle and sheep also became another source of income.

The Shah owns the most land in East Africa. He and his royal family control almost all of the most fertile land, which accounts for 20% of Iran's current land holdings in East Africa. The Black people living there are either forcibly relocated or forced into slavery on plantations.

Fahta has become a major city in East Africa, with a population of tens of thousands. Plantation products pass through here and are then transported by rail to Mogadishu or Zanzibar. Extensive development has also led to the emergence of voluntary immigrant communities, including Irish, Ottoman, and Egyptians who have converted to Shia Islam; Chinese from the Far East; and Armenians.

As for the local Black population, Iran adopted a policy of expulsion and segregation. The governor's office designated a portion of the land as their own reserve, where the soil was relatively fertile, and the chiefs did not complain. Additionally, trade was conducted with them at specific times each month, and the Black people could work on plantations or in workshops, albeit at very low wages.

With Iranian colonization, a division emerged among the remaining Black population in the region. Chiefs and some wealthy Black merchants amassed considerable wealth, while the lower-class Black population struggled to even feed themselves. Iran prohibited them from holding middle-class or higher positions; they were not required to read or write, but simply to perform their assigned tasks.

Iran has little colonial influence over the tribes of Northeast Africa, primarily engaging in friendly trade. This region is also home to numerous tribes and fragmented regimes, and Iran has mapped the area through trade and exploration. Specific details will have to wait until a new, unified state emerges in the region before negotiations can proceed.

(End of this chapter)