Indirect rule is a colonial governance system where colonial powers maintain control over territories by allowing local rulers or traditional authorities to keep their positions of power. These local leaders govern their people under the supervision or guidance of the colonial administration, enabling the colonial power to exert control with minimal direct intervention. This system provides a degree of local autonomy while allowing colonial authorities to enforce their policies through existing indigenous structures. The main characteristics of indirect rule include the use of traditional rulers to administer local areas, relying on native courts, local treasuries, and local authorities, while colonial officers oversee and guide the process. It was a cost-effective strategy that reduced the need for a large colonial administrative presence and often helped minimize resistance by preserving local customs and social structures. Prominent examples of indirect rule include British colonial governance in Nigeria and India, where traditional chiefs and princes administered local affairs under British oversight. Despite its advantages, indirect rule could entrench local elites, sometimes creating new power dynamics and challenges within colonized societies. Overall, indirect rule allowed colonial powers to govern vast territories efficiently by integrating existing local political systems into the colonial administration.