The Borders Institute -TBI

Today we commemorate 140 years since representatives of 13 nations in Europe and the United States met on 15 November 1884 in Berlin to lay down rules to guide them in the scramble for Africa. The signing of *The General Act of Berlin* on 26 February 1885 formalised European colonisation of Africa. Contrary to widespread belief, the delegates did not sit at a table with pencils and rulers to draw current African boundaries. After agreeing on how they will possess territories in Africa, it took two decades to draw boundaries of their possessions, which were fully recognized and adopted by African leaders in July 1964 in Cairo. Since then African leaders have fully committed to respect these colonial boundaries despite having been drawn in the interests of Europeans. Ironically, we continue to blame these colonial boundaries for being sources of disputes between African countries, yet we have declared them sacrosanct and inviolable. It's absurd to continue blaming Europeans for 60 years for engaging in an act that suited their interests while doing nothing to remake African boundaries to reflect African interests. It's only on current African boundaries where colonial history persists and is passionately celebrated by Africans. As we acknowledge this historic day, let's also remember that African boundaries are now African and Africans bear the primary responsibility of making them to work for Africa. No more blaming Berlin conference of 15 November 1884--26 February 1885 for our inability to transform colonial boundaries to African boundaries.

In order for Europeans to address "the root causes of migration in North Africa as well as sub-Saharan Africa," they "should be ready to open up markets and create legal migration pathways for those most talented and willing."

How Europe can stop African migration If the EU had €6B to spend, here’s how the bloc should use it.

The rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea could be undermined if cross-border trading is not well-managed.

Eritrea: Tension and Anger with Ethiopian cross-border merchants - Eritrea Hub The Eritrean people are angry and feeling disrespected in their own country By Seid Ali Hijay With the peace agreement between...

"Citizens of African countries still need a visa to travel to more than half of the continent's 54 countries, protecting borders drawn up by European colonisers more than a century ago." Even Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote require 38 visas to move around Africa.

Why is it so hard for Africans to visit other African countries? The dream of visa-free travel for Africans on the continent is still a long way off.

The EU is copying a policy pioneered by Spain over a decade ago of outsourcing border controls to Africa

Outsourcing Border Controls to Africa | DW | 23.09.2018 Europe is paying African states billions of euros to act as its new border police. Development aid is being used as a bargaining chip to control immigration. What price do refugees hoping to seek asylum pay and who is benefitting from this policy?

Increased violence between armed separatists and government troops in Cameroon is displacing thousands and forcing others into neighbouring Nigeria

Violence cripples innovation in Cameroon Start-ups relocate as violence escalates in English-speaking Northwest and Southwest

Documentary on the dangerous route taken by African migrants to reach Europe

Documentary lays bare the flight of an African migrant | DW | 21.09.2018 A Paris-based Ivorian refugee retraced the dangerous route he took through Africa to escape civil war and produced Revenir, eye-opening documentary screened at the African Film Festival in Cologne.

"Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell claims that US President Donald Trump suggested Spain should build a wall across the Sahara desert to deal with the issue of migration from Africa."

Spanish foreign minister claims Trump told him to build wall across the Sahara desert Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell claims that US President Donald Trump suggested Spain should build a wall across the Sahara desert to deal with the issue of migration from Africa.

Documenting and illustrating the trauma and turmoil of crossing the U.S.-Mexico border

Scenes From an American Tragedy: The Texas Border Crisis Award-winning illustrator Molly Crabapple travels to Texas to document families emerging from the trauma and turmoil of crossing the border

"Mauritius is to challenge the United Kingdom before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the Chagos Islands which Port Louis said it was stripped of during the colonial era and now serves as a major US military base."

Mauritius challenges UK over islands ‘stripped during colonial era’ The International Court of Justice is expected to decide on whether colonial deals that redrew African borders can be declared illegal or not.

"The most populous nation on the planet has 16 unique land neighbours, with 22,147km of land borders....A couple of its borders are particularly interesting. Trains crossing between Mongolia and China need to have their wheels changed at the town of Erlian. That's because railway tracks in China are narrower than in Mongolia. It takes several hours to perform this monumental operation and passengers must remain on board throughout."

The country with the most national borders may surprise you One country has 16 unique land neighbours, with 22,147km of land borders (also a record).

"Denmark is set to build a fence along the German border in a bid to keep out swine fever. Critics say it won't work, harms wildlife and may only be a symbolic gesture to cater to farmers and anti-immigrant sentiment."

https://www.dw.com/en/denmark-to-build-controversial-german-border-fence/a-45078064

Denmark to build controversial German border fence | DW | 14.08.2018