What was the primary purpose of the Brussels Convention?

The primary purpose of the Brussels Convention, held in 1890, was to address the issue of the arms trade in Africa, specifically to ban the sale of certain weapons, including the Maxim gun, to indigenous populations. This was driven by concerns among European powers that the proliferation of advanced weaponry would lead to increased conflict and instability on the continent, hindering colonial governance and European interests.

The convention was part of a broader effort following the Berlin Conference in 1884-1885, where European nations sought to regulate their colonization and trade practices in Africa. By prohibiting certain arms sales, the Brussels Convention aimed to protect European dominance and manage local uprisings or resistance to colonial rule. The motivation was less about humanitarian concerns for African people and more about ensuring control over the territories that European powers were claiming.

The other options do not accurately represent the main goal of the Brussels Convention. While trade routes in Africa and alliances among European powers played significant roles in the context of colonial competition, they were not the specific focus of this convention. Similarly, while promoting peace among European nations was an overarching theme in this period, the Brussels Convention directly targeted the arms trade as a means of ensuring stability in colonial regions rather than achieving peace between the nations