How did the League of Nations engage with African issues?

The League of Nations engaged with African issues primarily through mandates and addressing colonial disputes.

The League of Nations, established after World War I, was an international organisation designed to maintain world peace and resolve international disputes. One of its key mechanisms for engaging with African issues was through the mandate system. This system was established under Article 22 of the League's Covenant, which stated that territories taken from countries defeated in the war would be governed by League members until they were deemed ready for independence. In Africa, this primarily affected former German colonies such as Namibia, Togo, and Cameroon, which were mandated to Britain, France, and South Africa.

The mandate system was controversial. On one hand, it was seen as a progressive step towards decolonisation, as it theoretically aimed to prepare territories for self-governance. On the other hand, it was criticised for simply being a cover for continued colonial rule, as the mandatory powers often exploited their mandates for economic gain. The League was supposed to supervise the mandates and ensure they were being governed in the best interests of their inhabitants, but in practice, it had little power to enforce this.

In addition to the mandate system, the League also engaged with African issues by attempting to resolve colonial disputes. For example, it mediated in the conflict between Italy and Ethiopia in the 1930s. Italy, under Mussolini, sought to expand its empire by invading Ethiopia, one of the few independent African nations. The League condemned the invasion and imposed sanctions on Italy, but these were largely ineffective due to the lack of enforcement mechanisms and the unwillingness of major powers to risk their own interests.

Furthermore, the League also tried to address the issue of slavery and forced labour in Africa. It established the Temporary Slavery Commission in 1924 to investigate and combat slavery worldwide. However, its efforts were hampered by the reluctance of colonial powers to admit to the existence of slavery in their territories, and by the League's own lack of enforcement power.

Overall, while the League of Nations did engage with African issues, its effectiveness was limited by its lack of enforcement power and the self-interest of its member states.