Africa has essentially the most international locations of any continent with a complete of 54.
Somewhat than following pure terrains or historic boundaries, lots of its borders are strikingly straight in some areas and jagged in others, slicing by means of mountains, rivers and even communities.
Most of those synthetic borders hint again to the 1884-1885 Berlin Convention, a gathering that concluded 140 years in the past this week through which European powers carved up the continent amongst themselves with no African nations invited or represented.
On this visible explainer, Al Jazeera delves into the tales behind a number of the continent’s most uncommon borders.
Egypt or Sudan – why does nobody need Bir Tawil?
Beginning in northeastern Africa is a 2,000sq-km (795sq-mile) uninhabited, arid piece of land that neither Egypt nor Sudan desires to assert as their very own.
In 1899, Britain drew a straight-line border alongside the twenty second parallel, a line of latitude 22 levels north of the equator, separating Egypt and Sudan, two territories underneath British management.
Nonetheless, in 1902, Britain reassigned the coastal and resource-rich Hala’ib Triangle to Sudan and Bir Tawil to Egypt for geopolitical and administrative causes.
A long time later, after each international locations gained independence, Egypt insisted that the true border ought to observe the 1899 settlement whereas Sudan argued that it ought to observe the 1902 demarcation. Bir Tawil stays unclaimed by both nation as a result of claiming it will require forfeiting claims to the Hala’ib Triangle.
Egypt has managed the Hala’ib Triangle since 2000, however the dispute stays unresolved.
Why is The Gambia so slim?
As you journey alongside Africa’s western coast, you’ll see a slim strip of land wrapped across the Gambia River and virtually fully surrounded by Senegal. That is The Gambia, the smallest nation in mainland Africa and residential to about three million folks.
First explored by the Portuguese within the fifteenth century, The Gambia later turned a significant hub within the transatlantic slave commerce. It remained a British colony from 1821 till gaining independence in 1965. As a result of its proximity to then-French Senegal, its territorial boundaries have been a degree of rivalry between British and French authorities.
In 1889, Britain and France formally established The Gambia’s borders, agreeing that British management would lengthen about 16km (10 miles) on both aspect of the river, reaching its furthest navigable level at Yarbutenda.
A well-liked legend means that British forces fired cannonballs from their ships to find out the nation’s width, making certain management over very important commerce routes. Whereas no proof helps this declare, historic information point out that an Anglo-French fee in 1891 tried to refine the borders however confronted resistance from native rulers whose lands have been being arbitrarily divided.
Finally, The Gambia’s borders have been formed by colonial pursuits and British navy energy, leaving it as a protracted, slim enclave inside Senegal.
Why is Cabinda a part of Angola?
Heading south alongside the continent’s western coast, you’ll come throughout a small part of Angola separated from the remainder of the nation. That is Cabinda, Angola’s northern province, minimize off from the remainder of the nation by a slim strip of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Cabinda turned a part of Angola attributable to historic choices made throughout Portuguese colonial rule.
Through the 1884-1885 Berlin Convention, Cabinda was formally recognised as a Portuguese possession, separate from Angola, though each have been underneath Portuguese rule. Over time, Portugal administratively merged Cabinda with Angola, however the area remained geographically and culturally distinct.
When Portugal withdrew from its African colonies in 1975, the Alvor Settlement, signed with Angola’s foremost liberation teams, excluded Cabindan illustration. and Cabinda was merged with Angola, primarily for its invaluable offshore oil reserves.
This sparked resistance from the Cabindan independence motion, notably the Entrance for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda, which has continued to name for Cabinda’s independence from Angola.
Why does Namibia have slightly panhandle?
As you progress into Southern Africa, chances are you’ll discover a slim panhandle jutting out from Namibia. That is the Caprivi Strip.
Till the early twentieth century, Germany managed German South West Africa (now Namibia) and German East Africa (now Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) whereas Britain managed the encompassing territories, together with modern-day Botswana and Zambia.
Germany was in search of a direct commerce path to hyperlink its territories and needed entry to the Zambezi River. The plan was to navigate the river to the Indian Ocean, offering a shortcut to Tanzania.
In 1890, Germany and Britain signed a treaty through which Germany gave up claims to Zanzibar in trade for Heligoland, an island within the North Sea, and management of the Caprivi Strip, which met the Zambezi River.
Nonetheless, Germany’s transport plan failed. It’s believed that nobody advised the Germans about Victoria Falls – one of many world’s largest waterfalls with a 108-metre (354ft) drop, about 65km (40 miles) east of the strip, making it ineffective for transport.
Why is Lesotho surrounded by South Africa?
Nestled within the mountains of Southern Africa lies a small landlocked nation fully surrounded by South Africa known as Lesotho.
Within the nineteenth century, the Basotho folks, led by King Moshoeshoe I, established their stronghold within the highlands, utilizing the mountains as a pure defence in opposition to invaders just like the Zulu and Boer settlers (Dutch farmers).
To withstand Boer growth, Moshoeshoe sought British safety in 1868, making Basutoland a British protectorate.
Makes an attempt to position it underneath Colonial Cape rule failed attributable to Basotho resistance, and in 1884, Britain declared it a crown colony.
When the Union of South Africa shaped in 1910, Basutoland remained underneath British rule, avoiding South Africa’s apartheid insurance policies, and later gained independence in 1966 as Lesotho.
Why are three African international locations named Guinea?
4 international locations world wide have “Guinea” of their names, three of that are alongside the West African coast.
They’re:
- Guinea, previously often called French Guinea, gained independence in 1958 and stored the title Guinea.
- Guinea-Bissau, previously often called Portuguese Guinea, gained independence in 1974 and added “Bissau” to its title to distinguish itself from neighbouring Guinea.
- Equatorial Guinea, previously often called Spanish Guinea, gained independence in 1968 and added Equatorial to its title as a result of it’s close to the equator.
On the opposite aspect of the world lies Papua New Guinea, named by a Spanish explorer who named it after Guinea in West Africa, believing the locals resembled its inhabitants.
The title Guinea is believed to have been derived from the Portuguese phrase Guine, which referred to the area alongside the West African coast. When European colonisers divided this area, every known as their territory Guinea.
Enjoyable truth: The British guinea coin, first minted in 1663, was named after the area of Guinea in West Africa as a result of the gold used to supply it got here from there.
Why are there two Congos?
On reverse sides of the Congo River lie two international locations named after it: the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo.
Colonial powers Belgium and France established separate colonies alongside the river, naming every after it. The title Congo comes from the Kingdom of Kongo, a strong kingdom that when flourished alongside the river.
