Ethiopia: Colonial Boundaries of Africa: The case of Ethiopia’s Boundary with Sudan

Dr. Wondwosen TESHOME, B. University of Vienna, Department of Anthropology, Austria, [email protected]

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.

1. INTRODUCTION

Ethiopia and Sudan share a very long boundary of 1600 km length. Apart from their relations as neighbors, Ethiopia and Sudan have many common features. As Yacob (2007: 193) noted, the term “Ethiopia” is a Greek word for “dark” or black”. Similarly the term “Sudan” is an Arabic word for “dark” or “black”. Tribes such as Nuer, Anwak and Berta live in both Ethiopia and Sudan along the border areas. Many rivers from Ethiopia such as Atbara, Blue Nile (Abay), Mereb and Sobat flow to Sudan. The Ethiopia-Sudan border has two distinct marks. From the Eritrean border to Blue Nile River (where the two regions of Ethiopia, Tigray and Amhara lie) the international boundary manifests a genuine ethnic divide. In this part of the international border no major tribes live on both sides of the border. In the second part of the border that stretches from the Nile River to the Ethiopia’s border with Kenya where Ethiopian regions such as the Beni Shangul Gumuz, Gambella, and the SNNP (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples) are located many tribes live on either side of the border. Young (Young 2007: 17) describes the border population as follows: More…

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