Why did Britain establish the Bechuanaland Protectorate in 1885?

Britain established the Bechuanaland Protectorate in 1885 primarily as a strategic move to secure its interests during the Scramble for Africa.1

Following Germany's annexation of South West Africa in 1884, the British feared that the new German colony might link up with the independent Boer republic of the Transvaal, effectively blocking British access to the interior. To counter this threat and maintain British hegemony in the region, the British government utilized existing missionary and trade connections with Tswana leaders to declare a protectorate.12

This action served two critical purposes:
* Securing Expansion Routes: It ensured that the roads through Botswana remained open, facilitating British colonial expansion northward toward Zimbabwe and the Zambezi River.1
* Preventing Rival Alliances: It preempted a potential alliance between Germany and the Transvaal, which would have challenged British dominance in Southern Africa.12