The Western Sahara Fiasco of 1899: Thwarted Colonial Aspirations of the Austro-Hungarian Empire on the African Continent

Abstract Spain in 1898–99 intended to lease “its” West African colony, Rio de Oro, today’s Western Sahara, to the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. This article presents new archival evidence in order to show why this initiative was thwarted. The authors conclude that the Austro-Hungarian Empire failed to acquire colonies in Western Sahara and elsewhere due to the lack of appropriate means, opportunities, and also the internal Hungarian resistance; coupled with the risk averse nature of local entrepreneurial circles and the state apparatus.