COLONIAL BOUNDARIES OF AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIA’S BOUNDARY WITH SUDAN

Volume: 9 Number: 1 February 1, 2009
  • Wondwosen Teshome
EN

COLONIAL BOUNDARIES OF AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIA’S BOUNDARY WITH SUDAN

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study the merits and the demerits of colonial boundaries in Africa by using the Ethiopia-Sudan boundary as a case study. The paper tries to examine how the existing boundary between the two countries came into being in the early 20th century. The present-day boundary between Ethiopia and Sudan is principally the result of the 1902 and 1907 Anglo-Ethiopian delimitation treaties which were demarcated in 1903 and 1909 respectively. At present, there is confusion and controversy in Ethiopia, particularly, after the exposure of the alleged “secret” re-demarcation deal between the current governments of Ethiopia and Sudan that resulted, according to various media reports, in the ceding of huge Ethiopian border land to Sudan along their common border. This paper explores the historical background of the boundary conflict and gives an insight to the current boundary problem between Ethiopia and Sudan

Keywords

References

  1. (1) The Ethiopian emperor who initiated the re-unification process of the country. He ruled the country from 1855 to 1868 and died fighting against the British at Maqdalla in 1868.
  2. (2) OLF (Oromo Liberation Front); EPPF (Ethiopian Peoples Patriotic Front) (3) It was Stephen Jones who outlined the “traditional” four stages of boundary making in 1945. However, as Pratt (2006) noted the four stages (i.e.delimitation, demarcation, maintenance and management) should not be seen as totally independent processes. In many cases they overlap.
  3. (4) On the other hand, Prescott (1979) identifies only three stages in boundary making: allocation, delimitation and demarcation.
  4. (5) Ron Adler calls the politicians and their advisers as “boundary architects” and the technical specialists as “boundary engineers” (Blake 1995: 45).
  5. (6) As stated elsewhere in this paper, Charles Gwynn who delimited and demarcated Ethiopia’s border with Sudan was employed by the Royal Engineers Officers. (7) Blake (1995: 46) argues that “agreements are.......perfectly valid without demarcation.”
  6. (8) As Rushworth (1997:61) emphasized “delimitation” requires the arts of diplomacy, while “demarcation” is a mechanical process. In short, delimitation is drawing a line on the map while demarcation is drawing a line on the ground.
  7. (9) This is particularly true in poor countries like Ethiopia and Sudan. (10) Loisel (2004: 4) argues that in 1990 almost 87% of African borders were inherited from colonial era.
  8. (11) Foucher (1991: 202) claimed that by 1991, 41% of African border had never been demarcated.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

-

Journal Section

-

Authors

Wondwosen Teshome This is me

Publication Date

February 1, 2009

Submission Date

February 1, 2009

Acceptance Date

-

Published in Issue

Year 2009 Volume: 9 Number: 1

APA
Teshome, W. (2009). COLONIAL BOUNDARIES OF AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIA’S BOUNDARY WITH SUDAN. Ege Academic Review, 9(1), 337-367. https://izlik.org/JA25ZM73RB
AMA
1.Teshome W. COLONIAL BOUNDARIES OF AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIA’S BOUNDARY WITH SUDAN. ear. 2009;9(1):337-367. https://izlik.org/JA25ZM73RB
Chicago
Teshome, Wondwosen. 2009. “COLONIAL BOUNDARIES OF AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIA’S BOUNDARY WITH SUDAN”. Ege Academic Review 9 (1): 337-67. https://izlik.org/JA25ZM73RB.
EndNote
Teshome W (February 1, 2009) COLONIAL BOUNDARIES OF AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIA’S BOUNDARY WITH SUDAN. Ege Academic Review 9 1 337–367.
IEEE
[1]W. Teshome, “COLONIAL BOUNDARIES OF AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIA’S BOUNDARY WITH SUDAN”, ear, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 337–367, Feb. 2009, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA25ZM73RB
ISNAD
Teshome, Wondwosen. “COLONIAL BOUNDARIES OF AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIA’S BOUNDARY WITH SUDAN”. Ege Academic Review 9/1 (February 1, 2009): 337-367. https://izlik.org/JA25ZM73RB.
JAMA
1.Teshome W. COLONIAL BOUNDARIES OF AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIA’S BOUNDARY WITH SUDAN. ear. 2009;9:337–367.
MLA
Teshome, Wondwosen. “COLONIAL BOUNDARIES OF AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIA’S BOUNDARY WITH SUDAN”. Ege Academic Review, vol. 9, no. 1, Feb. 2009, pp. 337-6, https://izlik.org/JA25ZM73RB.
Vancouver
1.Wondwosen Teshome. COLONIAL BOUNDARIES OF AFRICA: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIA’S BOUNDARY WITH SUDAN. ear [Internet]. 2009 Feb. 1;9(1):337-6. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA25ZM73RB