Tariff

Before the Majin Railway had undergone a survey, astute investors had already declared their intention to invest. This development surpassed Constantine's expectations, indicating the necessity for early preparations for the railway project.

To address this, Constantine instructed Banning, stationed in Berlin, to seek out railway engineering experts. His mission: conduct a thorough field trip along the Congo River, assess pre-prices for the railway, and chart the planned route.

By September, negotiations on the Congo River Basin had begun to crystallize. Countries gradually acknowledged the Congolese Commission's management rights over the Congo. Notably, due to French opposition to free trade in the region, France's Congo (Brazzaville) was officially split into two parts: Congo (Kinshasa) and Congo (Brazzaville).

Surprisingly, the British, upon learning of the preemptive purchase agreement between Constantine and the French, eased their opposition to the recently passed Commission tariffs. Through Banning's relentless efforts, they agreed to a 10% tariff, aiming to maintain order on the Congo River and thwart potential exploitation by the French.

However, the British had a condition. Banning brought it to Constantine's attention—the Congo River had to assist the British in quelling the Mahdi rebellion after effectively controlling the Congo.

The Mahdi Rebellion, dating back to 1881, involved the MSL rebellion against Britain and Egypt in the Sudanese region of Africa. The origin of this complex situation traced back to the possession of Egypt by Ottoman Turkey and its involvement in the Greek War of Independence in 1821.

Egypt, led by Muhammad Ali, lent support to the Ottoman Turks against the Greek revolution, expecting territorial gains in return. The subsequent conflict between Egypt and Ottoman Turkey resulted in the first Egyptian-Turkish war. Egypt emerged victorious, conquering Palestine and Syria.

In the 1880s, the Mahdi Rebellion erupted in Sudan, threatening British colonial interests. The British, already occupying Egypt, found themselves retreating to the Red Sea area of Sudan due to the rebellion's intensity.

Constantine, recalling the rebellion's duration of over ten years, inclined towards accepting the English terms. The rationale was straightforward—profit.

Sudan had historically served as a critical land passage for Arabs to enter the Congo region and abduct black individuals as slaves. Recognizing the potential threat these Sudanese Arabs posed, Constantine agreed to the English terms.

The Sudanese Arabs, being invaders, played a role in the division of Sudan into South Sudan and Sudan in the 21st century. Constantine saw the Congolese Committee's intervention as an effort to maintain local order, combat the brutal slave trade, and promote European capitalism's interests.

As the Arab slave traders in Sudan posed a direct threat to the Congolese Committee's interests, Constantine supported the British proposal to assist in quelling the Mahdi rebellion. He understood that a stable Sudan, free from Arab slave traders, would contribute to a larger market and increased benefits for the Congolese Committee.

The Mahdi, once a figure opposing colonists, paralleled figures like Wei Guangzheng and Hong Xiuquan. However, his rapid descent into corruption, extravagance, and a disregard for economic development led to a dictatorship with religious overtones that focused on destruction rather than progress.

Mahdi's ambitions to liberate the entire world, coupled with economic neglect, resulted in Sudan's decline. Constantine's distaste for Mahdi stemmed from the leader's destructive tendencies and a lack of concern for his people's well-being.

In conclusion, Constantine ultimately agreed to the British proposal, aligning with his commitment to the Congolese Committee's goals and the pursuit of economic stability in Sudan. The complex historical context and geopolitical considerations shaped Constantine's decision-making process, highlighting the intricate dynamics of colonial-era Africa.