Who captured the Africans who were sold in the Atlantic?

The Africans who were sold in the Atlantic slave trade were primarily captured by rival African tribes or local leaders during inter-tribal conflicts, raids, or wars. These captors would often sell the enslaved individuals to European traders in exchange for goods such as firearms, alcohol, and textiles. The involvement of some African societies in the slave trade facilitated the large-scale capture and export of enslaved people to the Americas. This complex system was driven by various economic and social factors within both African and European contexts.