Was Africa better under European Control?

[Kenology]

non-gravity said:

Kenology said:

Secondly, Ethiopia is one of the least developed African nations.  Seriously.  The Industrial Revolution only happened in Europe - the rest of the world was colonized by Europe.  When countries were autonomous, they played catch up to develop their nations.  This hasn't really happened in most of Africa for obvious reasons.

And the Italian so-called "occupation" of Ethiopia was a disaster.  It was really only an occupation of Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Harer, Mekele, Axum, and Adwa (along with some points in between).  The Ethiopian resistance was in firm control of the countryside.

I meant that in an age where pretty much the entire world was divided up in empires Ethiopia imported just enough industrial age military power to remain independent.

On my map in 1910 the only other nations in Africa or Asia that remained independent seem to have been Liberia, Afghanistan and the once mighty China. 

Oh, ok, yes... that's true for the first Italian invasion in 1896.  Ethiopia under Menelik II had one of only two modern armies on the African continent at the time. 

The second invasion in 1936 showed how ill-equiped Ethiopia had become.  Italy commited all kinds of war crimes, dropping mustard gas and the like from above, and had no trouble routing the standing Ethiopian army.  In fact, Ethiopia had a pathetic Air Force and a few African Americans went over there to help out with the piloting duties.

Wasn't until the patriots in countryside took up arms that the Italian army was fought to a stalemate.