Yes. Historically the big "Who conquers first" was Christianity vs. Islam. At one point the two was equal in dominance ruling gigantic parts. As an atheist I'll still prefer coming across any other African than the Islamic ones. I can't say if it was deliberate, but as a power move, the border drawing was a good one. It def undermined the further expansion (or potential thereof) of the Islamic armies cus omg the potency of a religion with a Warlord as a founder.
Just sad that the world has to be a playground for the most powerful forces.
