Africa has the most countries of all continents with a total of 54.
Rather than following natural land or historical borders, many of its borders are striking in certain regions and shredded in others, cutting through mountains, rivers and even communities.
Most of these artificial borders go back to the Berlin 1884-1885 conference, a meeting that concluded 140 years ago this week in which the European powers dug the continent between them without any African nations invited or represented.
In this visual explanator, Al Jazeera plunges into the stories behind some of the most unusual borders of the continent.
Egypt or Sudan – Why does no one want Bir Tawil?
From North East Africa, an arid uninhabited and arid terrain of 2000 km (795 feet because
In 1899, Great Britain pulled a right border along the 22nd parallel, a latitude line at 22 degrees north of the equator, separating Egypt and Sudan, two territories under British control.
However, in 1902, Great Britain reassured the coastal hala’ib triangle and rich in resources in Sudan and Bir Tawil in Egypt for geopolitical and administrative reasons.
Decades later, after the two countries obtained independence, Egypt insisted that the real border follows the 1899 agreement while Sudan argued that it should follow the demarcation of 1902. Tawil remains not claimed by one or the other country, because claiming that this would require allegations of perfection to the Hala’ib triangle.
Egypt has controlled the Hala’ib triangle since 2000, but the dispute remains unresolved.
Why is Gambia so narrow?
When you travel along the west coast of Africa, you will see a narrow strip of land rolled around the Gambia river and almost entirely surrounded by Senegal. This is Gambia, the smallest country in continental Africa and which houses around three million people.
Explored for the first time by the Portuguese in the 15th century, Gambia later became a major hub in the milking of transatlantic slaves. He remained a British colony from 1821 until his independence in 1965. Due to his proximity to French Senegal at the time, his territorial limits were a point of discord between the British and French authorities.
In 1889, Great Britain and France officially established the borders of the Gambia, agreeing that British control would extend at around 16 km (10 miles) on each side of the river, reaching its most distant navigable point at Yarbutenda.
A popular legend suggests that the British forces have drawn cannon dumplings from their ships to determine the width of the country, ensuring the control of vital commercial roads. Although no evidence supports this assertion, historical files indicate that an Anglo-French commission in 1891 tried to refine the borders but was faced with the resistance of local leaders whose land was arbitrarily divided.
In the end, the borders of the Gambia were shaped by colonial interests and British military power, leaving it as a long narrow enclave in Senegal.
Why is Cabinda part of Angola?
By heading south along the west coast of the continent, you will meet a small section of Angola separated from the rest of the country. It is Cabinda, the northern province of Angola, cut off from the rest of the country by a narrow band of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Cabinda has become part of Angola due to historical decisions taken during Portuguese colonial domination.
During the Berlin conference of 1884-1885, Cabinda was officially recognized as a Portuguese possession, distinct from Angola, although the two were under Portuguese domination. Over time, Portugal has administratively merged Cabinda with Angola, but the region has remained geographically and culturally distinct.
When Portugal withdrew from its African colonies in 1975, the Alvor agreement, signed with the main Liberation groups of Angola, excluded the representation of Cabindan. And Cabinda was merged with Angola, mainly for its precious Offshore oil reserves.
This sparked a resistance from the Cabindan independence movement, in particular the front for the release of the Cabinda enclave, which continued to call for the independence of Cabinda de l’Angola.
Why does Namibia have a little Panhandle?
As you move to southern Africa, you may notice a narrow Panhandle that comes out of Namibia. This is the Caprivi band.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, Germany controlled Southwest German Africa (now Namibia) and East German Africa (today Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) while the Grande- Brittany controlled the surrounding territories, including modern Botswana and Zambia.
Germany was looking for a direct trade route to connect its territories and wanted access to the Zambezi river. The plan was to sail in the river to the Indian Ocean, providing a shortcut to Tanzania.
In 1890, Germany and Great Britain signed a treaty in which Germany abandoned the claims in Zanzibar in exchange for Heligoland, an island in the North Sea, and the control of the Caprivi band, which met the Zambezi river.
However, the German transport plan has failed. It is believed that no one spoke to the Germans of Victoria Falls – one of the largest waterfalls in the world with a drop of 108 meters (354 feet), about 65 km (40 miles) east of the band, Which makes it useless for transport.
Why is Lesotho surrounded by South Africa?
Nestled in the mountains of southern Africa is a small country without coastline entirely surrounded by South Africa called Lesotho.
In the 19th century, the Basotho people, led by King Moshoeshoe I, established their bastion in the Highlands, using the mountains as a natural defense against invaders like the Zulu and Boer colonists (Dutch farmers).
To resist Boer’s expansion, Moshoeshoe sought British protection in 1868, making Basutoland a British protectorate.
Attempts to place it under the rule of colonial CAP failed due to the resistance of Basotho and, in 1884, Great Britain declared it a crown colony.
When the South African Union was formed in 1910, Basutoland remained under British domination, avoiding apartheid policies in South Africa, and then acquired independence in 1966 as Lesotho.
Why are three African countries named Guinea?
Four countries around the world have “Guinea” on their behalf, three of which along the West African coast.
They are:
- GuineaFormerly known as the French Guinea, obtained independence in 1958 and kept the name of Guinea.
- Guinea-BissauFormerly known as the Portuguese Guinea, acquired independence in 1974 and added “Bissau” to its name to differentiate itself from neighboring Guinea.
- Equatorial GuineaFormerly known as the Spanish Guinea, acquired independence in 1968 and added the equatorial to its name because it is near the equator.
On the other side of the world is Papua New GuineaAppointed by a Spanish explorer who appointed him according to Guinea in West Africa, believing that the inhabitants resembled its inhabitants.
The name of Guinea would have been derived from the Portuguese word Guine, which referred to the region along the West African coast. When the European colonizers divided this region, each called their Guinea territory.
Funny fact: the British Guinea currency, struck for the first time in 1663, was appointed according to the Guinea region in West Africa because gold had come from there.
Why are there two Congos?
On the opposite sides of the Congo river are two countries named according to: the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.
Colonial Powers Belgium and France have established separate colonies along the river, naming each after it. The name of the Congo comes from the kingdom of Kongo, a powerful kingdom which once prospered along the river.
