The First European General in Africa: Charles Gordon and the Blueprint for Colonization

Before the Carving of Africa Began Before the 1884–1885 Berlin Conference that formalized the Scramble for Africa, Western powers had already begun placing military men in strategic positions across the continent. These generals served not just as military commanders—but as colonial administrators, empire-builders, and spiritual crusaders. The man who best represents this transformation is General Charles George Gordon, the earliest European general to rule African territory in the modern era.

Who Was General Charles Gordon? Born in 1833 in Woolwich, England, Charles Gordon was a British Army officer and devout Christian. He rose to fame during the Taiping Rebellion in China, where he led the “Ever Victorious Army” and earned the nickname “Chinese Gordon.”

Gordon was later appointed Governor-General of Sudan (1873–1880) under the Khedivate of Egypt, which was heavily influenced by British interests. During this period, he launched campaigns to suppress the East African slave trade and extend Egyptian-British control deep into Sudan.

However, Gordon’s rule was not simply administrative. He combined military force with religious zeal, viewing himself as a moral crusader. His sense of divine mission often put him at odds with both Egyptian and British policymakers, but made him a folk hero back in Britain.

His story ended in tragedy—and martyrdom—when he was killed during the Siege of Khartoum in 1885 by the Mahdist forces led by Muhammad Ahmad. His death electrified the British public and helped justify future military interventions in Sudan and beyond.

Gordon’s Role in the Bigger Picture Gordon was more than just a general—he was the prototype of the military-colonial administrator, merging Christianity, empire, and military rule. His campaigns in Sudan served as a blueprint for later British military occupations across Africa:

• Military-led administration

• Use of “moral” justifications (anti-slavery, anti-barbarism)

• Strategic occupation of river routes and trade centers

• Framing colonization as civilizational uplift

He became a symbol of righteous imperialism: a man who “sacrificed” himself to bring order to the so-called chaos of Africa. In truth, Gordon’s mission was about expanding British power—laying the foundations for resource extraction and control of the Nile.

The Rothschild Connection: Financing Empire What few realize is that Gordon’s entry into Sudan was part of a larger imperial strategy—funded by the Rothschild banking dynasty. In 1875, British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli secured a £4 million loan from Lionel de Rothschild to secretly purchase Egypt’s shares in the Suez Canal. This deal granted Britain control over the vital trade route connecting Europe to Asia via the Red Sea.

The canal was not just a trade route—it was a lifeline for the British Empire. And protecting it meant controlling the Nile, Sudan, and surrounding territories. Gordon’s deployment to Sudan occurred in this exact context: as part of a Rothschild-financed imperial push.

The Rothschilds weren’t just bankers—they were architects of empire, financing infrastructure, wars, and colonization under the guise of economic modernization. Their influence quietly laid the groundwork for Western domination of Africa’s waterways, resources, and borders.

From General Gordon to Modern Africa: Rothschild Influence Today The same imperial framework that placed Gordon in Sudan continues to shape African politics today—particularly in the Great Lakes region involving Rwanda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

• Rwanda: Seen as a Western proxy, Rwanda has received military aid, political protection, and development funds from the U.S. and UK. Under Kagame, Rwanda has been accused of supporting rebel groups in eastern DRC—groups that destabilize the region while ensuring continued access to cobalt, coltan, and gold—all critical for Western industries.

• Kenya: Host to AFRICOM’s East Africa regional operations, Kenya plays the role of diplomatic and military enforcer, mediating in South Sudan and deporting dissidents who threaten pro-Western regional stability. Kenya’s elite have strong ties to the World Bank, IMF, and Western corporations.

• DRC: Though immensely rich in natural resources, the DRC remains trapped in cycles of instability. Its sovereignty is undermined by foreign-backed rebel activity, foreign mining interests, and financial dependency. Countries like Rwanda and Uganda—both aligned with Western interests—have repeatedly intervened in DRC under the pretense of regional security.

  
  

These dynamics directly benefit Western banks, tech corporations, and military contractors, who profit from resource extraction, cheap labor, and ungoverned spaces. And behind the scenes, the financial networks that profit from this chaos are rooted in the same European banking dynasties that funded the early colonial incursions—including the Rothschilds.

Conclusion: The Common Denominator—From Scramble to Surveillance Whether it was General Gordon being sent to Sudan to secure the Nile, or Kenya and Rwanda managing Western interests in the Great Lakes region today, the common thread is clear:

Western dominance in Africa has always been orchestrated through military, economic, and political puppets—and financed by elite banking families like the Rothschilds.

They helped purchase the Suez Canal, which led to Gordon’s posting in Sudan. They helped fund imperial wars and infrastructure projects. And today, they sit at the core of institutions that dictate African debt, foreign investment, and political compliance.

Africa’s story cannot be separated from the financial empires that engineered its exploitation. Until these connections are exposed and broken, our nations will remain trapped in an updated version of the same colonial game.