Indirect rule
system of colonial government, in which the day-to-day government and administration of areas both small and large was left in the hands of traditional rulers, while external affairs, taxation, and communications were left to colonial powers
en-US/ˌɪndɚˈɛkt ˈɹul/
en-GB/ɪndaɪˈɹɛkt ˈɹuːl/