African Entrepreneurship Record

By the end of September, the United Kingdom had fully withdrawn its army from East Africa, and Portugal, dragging its feet, also withdrew its troops and some civilians, though more civilians went to Brazil.

The Brazilians felt a certain schadenfreude at the plight of the sovereign country. After all, Portugal had a rich political legacy on the international stage. As the world’s leading Portuguese-speaking power, Brazil naturally felt it should assume the political status and influence of the Portuguese Kingdom in the Portuguese-speaking world, just as Mexico always wanted to replace Spain as the leader of the Spanish-speaking world.

However, with Mexico’s overreaching ambitions, it’s destined not to accomplish big things. Spain is not yet faltering, its façade remains unchallenged by the United States, and countries like Mexico, heavily subdued by the United States, have no standing in the Spanish-speaking world.

Currently, the Spanish-speaking world also has a rapidly developing Argentina, so even if Spain proper can no longer maintain its status, it’s not Mexico’s turn to take the lead.

Of course, history eventually proved that Spain, as a member of the Western world, was never truly comparable to other Spanish-speaking countries. Mexico and Argentina were eventually brought under firm control by the United States. Counting the Philippines, Cuba, and Venezuela, the U.S. seemed to consistently exploit former Spanish-speaking countries.

Nonetheless, the Spanish-speaking countries typically show severe polarization. There are nations like Mexico, which have completely capitulated, and small countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Paraguay, which dare to confront power. Of course, Paraguay has now been severely weakened and is focusing its efforts on economic development.

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Maputo.

Maputo is a crucial part of the current East African eastern ports; with Portuguese development, Maputo’s growth is matched by no other city in East Africa.

Although the population of Maputo has significantly decreased, it still holds a notable position among eastern port cities. Due to its remote location, Brazil did not send ships to evacuate people, leaving at least over twenty thousand Portuguese residents in Maputo. Moreover, Maputo, as a comprehensive international ”metropolis” in southeastern Africa, also houses many Arabs, Persians, and Indians.

With the flag of the Heixinggen Kingdom rising over Maputo, both Arabs and Persians are well aware of the situation. These Arabs and Persians are primarily merchants, actively conducting business not only in Maputo but also in other East African cities like Dar es Salaam.

As a dominant power in the Indian Ocean, East Africa is well-practiced in its ways in the Western Indian Ocean region, so collaborating with East Africa’s governance of Maputo comes naturally to them.

”Tickets to Europe are priced at double, of course, if you can catch a ride on a passing ship yourself, or if the Portuguese government manages to send you back, that’s your ability. If you want to stay in East Africa, you can, but you must comply with the arrangement of the East African government.”

Upon taking office, the new mayor of Maputo, Hansleden, issued an ultimatum to the Portuguese residents of Maputo.

The East African government’s stance towards Portuguese civilians is that they can acquire East African nationality, but joining East African citizenship also means losing their freedom.

Most Portuguese in Mozambique have some assets, so it’s naturally impossible for them to integrate into East Africa willingly. Thus, most choose to take their accumulations over the years and return to Europe.

Of course, East Africa isn’t just accepting anyone. Even for those committed to obtaining East African nationality, they have to pass East African screening. East Africa has long surpassed the stage of desperate immigration.

”Ronar, is your family planning to return to the homeland?” Griffin asked.

”Of course, staying in East Africa now isn’t a wise choice. Portugal has long severed ties with East Africa, so do you think East Africa would treat those who remain kindly?” Ronar replied.

”You have a point, but is your family planning to go back to Portugal?”

”Yes, where else could we go but Portugal? You know my wife and kids are locals, and they might not be well-received elsewhere.”

Griffin said: ”I’m afraid the situation at home won’t be much better, so I still advise you to develop in Brazil. I hear Brazil has abolished slavery, and with many Black people there, you won’t face too much discrimination, whereas you might not integrate well back home.”

Hearing this, Ronar was troubled, frowning as he said, ”But we have no way to get to Brazil right now. There are too few passenger ships passing through Maputo, and their fares are even higher than East African ones. Yet, the East African ships only provide routes to Lisbon, which are hard to come by.”

”Well, there’s no other option but to leave Maputo, especially with someone like your wife. I’ve heard that East Africa treats Black people very harshly. If you stay here, you might become enslaved,” Griffin said with a serious tone.

East Africa has a notorious reputation, especially within the former Portuguese colonies, where its reviews have always been negative. Thus, most people only harbor fear toward East Africa.

East Africa is well aware of this but is also quite content, as it can’t wait for the Portuguese to get lost from here.

In the 19th-century colonies, there were hardly any so-called ”law-abiding citizens.” Most were enterprising ”troublemakers” or simply convicts, with the most typical example being Australia’s prison.

Therefore, East Africa naturally has little interest in the Portuguese residents left behind by the Portuguese government, and as for the Boers, there’s no way out since the Boer Republic was annihilated by East Africa, leaving nowhere to send them. Neither the former sovereign countries Netherlands nor the United Kingdom would accept these Boers.

The Portuguese are different; even if they don’t return to Portugal, there’s still Portuguese Goa and Portuguese Timor. These Portuguese colonies would surely welcome Portuguese immigrants.

Especially Portuguese Goa, which faces immense pressure from India, it’s hard to maintain the interests of Portuguese people there without a certain population, especially after being thoroughly disgraced in Portugal proper.

Of course, now is not the time to send these people to Portuguese Goa. The East African government is currently trying every means to empty the pockets of the local Portuguese. And the ticket price to return to Portugal proper isn’t cheap.

Once the economically able Portuguese have entirely left, East Africa will organize to send the remaining people to Portuguese Goa. It’s on the west coast of India, not far from East Africa, so the ticket price is halved.

At this time, if the Portuguese Goa route is opened up, most Portuguese will choose Portuguese Goa instinctively, resulting in less profit for East Africa.

Of course, those with connections or means can hitch a ride out of East Africa; Maputo, as a commercial port, has many Arab and Persian merchant ships passing through, allowing them to leave East Africa via these means.

There’s no need to only choose Portugal; many countries are not picky about immigrants. For instance, the neighboring Madagascar Island is also a good option. Currently, the northern part of Madagascar Island is French territory, where the quality of life wouldn’t be too bad.

In colonial areas worldwide, White immigrants are generally welcome. Like the United States, although Anglo-Saxons are the ruling class, the domestic population actually consists mostly of Irish, German, Italian, Slavic, and other residents.

Madagascar Island is currently the most cost-effective destination for the Portuguese, where they can live as second-class citizens; as long as they comply with the dispatch of the French government, they can continue to live quite well.