Colonial Boundaries of Africa: The Case of Ethiopia's Boundary with Sudan

Ege Academic Review, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 319-349, 2009

Posted: 26 Mar 2009

Date Written: March, 23 2009

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: Africa, Anglo-Abyssinia, Boundary, Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I, Major Charles Gwynn, Menelik II, Sudan

JEL Classification: H7, H79, H8, H89

Suggested Citation

Teshome-Bahiru, Wondwosen, Colonial Boundaries of Africa: The Case of Ethiopia's Boundary with Sudan (March, 23 2009). Ege Academic Review, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 319-349, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1367057

Wondwosen Teshome-Bahiru (Contact Author)

Forum für Sozialwissenschaften Forschung ( email )

Vienna
Austria

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