Saturday, February 2, 2013

Borders in Africa are Interesting and Intense topics

By Marko Whitefield


Borders in Africa are interesting and intense topics to be discussed about. There are many things that could fall under the topic of borders in Africa. Those matters could be triggered by conflict of induced by religion. Other reasons are colonial by nature by nature or are fueled by separatist problems.

African states: Nigeria and Cameroon put into effect the March 11, 1913 agreement between countries Germany and Britain regarding the ownership of the swampy lands in that region of Africa. The agreement between the two African states is about Nigeria giving Cameroon total power and responsibility to formally handle the Bakassi Peninsula. Proof was provided by two African states, Nigeria and Cameroon, regarding territorial claims which were eventually settled by the World Court.

People in the Bakassi peninsula have expressed interest in being part of the Nigerian territory instead of Cameroon. Much attention was never given to the Bakassi peninsula until they discovered rich oil resources in that area. Nigeria stated that it respects the ruling of the international law regarding territorial disputes.

The subject of borders in Africa is much more profound. Boarders in Africa has a lot of countries concerned, ethnic groups behind it and various reasons of disputes.

Africa's unstable years during the 1960's and 1970's has faded; however, Africa still has areas in turmoil about its borders. When the first African leaders guaranteed that they would maintain European-drawn borders, the promise of coups, counter-coups, and war threats relaxed. However, the main problem boils down to the unpopularity of this move to the majority of the African populace.

Kenya has an estimated number of 20 plus separatist movements. The latest separatist movement in record is the Mombasa Republican Council, a Kenyan separatist group. Consider Angola, it is a manufactured nation comprised of 10 ethnic groups who do not share a sense of nationhood and history. This is probably the reason for separatist groups and secessionist movement is Angola and Kenya today.

Sudan's 2011 partition is a clear example of a famously poor demarcation of a particular state that enclosed an immense religious and ethnic coverage. Countries such as Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo unlike cultural groups have opted to band together to compete with each other for finite power and resources.

Separation in Africa has a lot of gray areas, it is complex and debatable. This aspect of African history leads to the direction of harmony, independence and growth for the continent.




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