Chapter 105: "Non-aggression Treaty between East Africa and Mozambique"
On the scene near Mitomoni Village, a tense encounter occurred between Portuguese officer Turio Peni and the soldiers of Mitomoni Village. Miscommunication due to language differences escalated the situation until an interpreter in Turio Peni's team was able to bridge the linguistic gap, allowing for communication between both sides.
Mitomoni Village's leader, Gilles Zioni, who hailed from the French-Prussian border region, resorted to using French to communicate, ultimately facilitating a dialogue. Gilles Zioni permitted Turio Peni and a small group to enter the village without weapons, while the rest of the Portuguese team remained outside.
This encounter highlighted the existing understanding between the East African colony and the Portuguese Mozambique colony, where both sides refrained from aggressive actions and had mutually acknowledged spheres of influence.
A month later, back in Maputo, the capital of Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique), officials received a report from Turio Peni regarding his encounter with the Germans in the East African colony. While the Portuguese were surprised by the rapid expansion of the German East African colony, they chose not to take action, as long as the Germans didn't encroach further into Mozambique.
To maintain peaceful relations and avoid conflicts, the Mozambique government initiated discussions with the East African colony to establish a clear boundary between their territories and define their respective spheres of influence in East Africa. The East African colony, focused on its northern and western expansion, had no immediate interest in Mozambique's southern region.
Ernst's colonial strategy emphasized safety and non-interference with powerful local forces until establishing a secure foothold. The focus was on developing regions like Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and northern Kenya while avoiding confrontation with other European colonists and Arab traders.
The East African colony operated as an official colony, distinct from Prussia in terms of ownership but generally acknowledged as a Prussian colony. The Non-Aggression Treaty between East Africa and Mozambique, signed on December 3, 1867, defined their borders and spheres of influence, ensuring both parties respected each other's interests. It focused on land and ocean trade channel intersections, primarily the area from Lake Malawi to the Indian Ocean.
This treaty laid the foundation for peaceful coexistence between the two colonies, but the west bank of Lake Malawi remained undivided, leaving the potential for future disputes. However, the current treaty suited both parties' interests, as they had no immediate plans to expand into each other's territory. The treaty added a layer of security to East Africa's northern expansion and set the stage for its future developments.
With the immigrant mission in its final stages and the end of indigenous conflicts in the northwest, the East African colonies were poised to take over the northwest region, expanding their control over the former East African Community. The "Non-Aggression Treaty" further ensured stability in the region as the colonies entered a new phase of growth and development.