What role did disease play in european efforts to colonize africa? what role did disease play in european efforts to colonize africa? initially, european diseases devastated the peoples of sub-saharan africa; later endemic tropical diseases in sub-saharan africa killed many europeans, but by then, european conquest was well underway. initially, endemic tropical diseases in sub-saharan africa killed many europeans, but later, european diseases devastated the peoples of sub-saharan africa. endemic tropical diseases in sub-saharan africa killed many europeans, and delayed their conquest of the region. as in latin america, european diseases devastated the populations of sub-saharan africa, facilitating european conquest. disease played no role.