Who controlled the African slave trade?

The African slave trade was primarily controlled by European powers, particularly Portugal, Spain, Britain, France, and the Netherlands, from the 16th to the 19th centuries. These nations established coastal trading posts and collaborated with African leaders to facilitate the capture and transport of enslaved people. The trade was fueled by demand for labor in the Americas, especially in plantation economies. Ultimately, the slave trade was a complex system involving European traders, African middlemen, and colonial economies.