Africa has most countries on any continent with a total of 54.

Instead of following the natural terrain or historical borders, many of its borders are remarkably straight to consider some areas and are launched in other regions, and they are abandoned between mountains, rivers and even societies.

Most of these artificial borders go back to the Berlin Conference 1884-1885, a meeting that concluded 140 years ago this week as European powers granted the continent with each other without any invited or active African countries.

In this visual explanation, the island flows into the stories behind some of the most strange borders on the continent.

Egypt or Sudan – Why no one wants Bear Tawil?

Starting in northeastern Africa, there is a barren plot of 2000 square kilometers (795 square meters), which Egypt or Sudan does not want to demand their own.

In 1899, Britain drew the straight border along the parallel 22, a line of the 22 -degree latitude north of the equator, the separation of Egypt and Sudan, and two regions under British control.

However, in 1902, Britain renovated the coastal and resource -rich Hallaib triangle to Sudan and Pir Tawil to Egypt for political and administrative reasons.

After decades, after both countries gained independence, Egypt insisted that the real borders should follow the 1899 agreement while Sudan argued that it must be followed by the 1902. For the Haliba triangle.

Egypt has dominated the Halib Triangle since 2000, but the conflict is still unleashed.

Why is Gambia very narrow?

While traveling along the western coast of Africa, you will see a narrow strip of land wrapped around the Gambia River and is completely surrounded by Senegal. This is the Gambia, the smallest country in Africa is the main mainland and home to about three million people.

The Portuguese exploration for the first time in the fifteenth century, Gambia later became a major center in the delayed slave trade. A British colony remained from 1821 until it gained independence in 1965. Because of its proximity to Senegal at the time, its regional borders were a point of disagreement between the British and French authorities.

In 1889, Britain and France formally established the Gambia border, and agreed that British control would extend about 16 km (10 miles) on both sides of the river, reaching beyond the authority of the authority in Godota.

A popular legend indicates that the British forces launched artillery balls from their ships to determine the country’s width, ensuring control of vital trade routes. While no evidence of this claim is supported, historical records indicate that the Anglo -French Committee in 1891 tried to improve the borders but faced resistance from local rulers whose lands were arbitrary divided.

Ultimately, the Gambia border was formed through the colonial interests and the British military power, leaving a long and narrow pocket inside Senegal.

Why Capinda is part of Angola?

South along the western coast of the continent, you will cope with a small part of Angola separated from the rest of the country. This is Cabinda, the northern province of Angola, from the rest of the country through a narrow strip of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Kabinda became part of Angola due to the historical decisions taken during the Portuguese colonial rule.

During the Berlin Conference 1884-1885, Cabinda was officially identified as a Portuguese possession, separate from Angola, although both were under Portuguese rule. Over time, Portugal merged Kabinda with Angola, but the region remained geographically and culturally distinguished.

When Portugal withdrew from its African colonies in 1975, the ALVOR agreement, with the main editorial groups in Angola, was excluded, represented by Cabindan. Kabinda merged with Angola, primarily for its valuable reserves abroad.

This resistance from the Capindan Independence Movement, especially the introduction to the liberation of Jeep Cabinda, which continued to call Capinda’s independence from Angola.

Why Namibia has a little Panhandle?

As you move to South Africa, you may notice a narrow narrow of Namibia. This is the Caprivi tape.

Until the early twentieth century, Germany controls southern West Africa (now Namibia) and East Africa (now Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) while Britain was controlling the surrounding lands, including modern Botswana and Zambia.

Germany was looking for a direct trade by connecting its lands and wanted to reach the Zambizi River. The plan was to move to the river to the Indian Ocean, and provide an abbreviation to Tanzania.

In 1890, Germany and Britain signed a treaty in which Germany abandoned Zanzibar’s claims in exchange for Heligulland, an island in the North Sea, and the control of the Caprivian sector, which met the Zambizi River.

However, the transportation plan failed in Germany. It is believed that one of the Germans did not tell Victoria Vols-one of the largest waterfalls in the world with a decrease in 108 meters (354 feet), about 65 km (40 miles) east of the tape, making it transportable for transportation.

Why is Lesoto South Africa surrounding?

It is located in the mountains of South Africa. A small, non -coastal state is entirely surrounded by South Africa called Lesoto.

In the nineteenth century, the people of Bassouto, led by King Mushwisho I, established their stronghold in the highlands, using mountains as a natural defense against invaders such as the Zulu settlers and Boir (Dutch farmers).

To resist the Bouir expansion, Moshoeshoe sought British protection in 1868, making Basutoland a British reserve.

Attempts to put him under the rule of Cape Cape colonized due to the resistance of Basto, and in 1884, Britain announced that it was a crown colony.

When the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, Pasotoland remained under British rule, avoid the policies of apartheid in South Africa, and later gained independence in 1966 in the name of Lesoto.

Why are three African countries called Guinea?

Four countries around the world have “Guinea” with its names, three of which are along the West African coast.

they:

1. GuineaThe previously known as French Guinea, gained independence in 1958 and maintained the name Guinea.
2. Guinea BissauAnd, which was previously known as Portuguese Guinea, gained independence in 1974 and added “Bissau” to its name to distinguish itself from the neighboring Guinea.
3. Equatorial GuineaAnd, which was previously known as Spanish Guinea, gained independence in 1968 and added a tropical to its name because it was near the equator.

On the other side of the world lies Papua New GuineaWhom he named a Spanish explorer, called Guinea in West Africa, believing that the local population resembles its inhabitants.

The name Guinea is believed to have been derived from the Portuguese word Guine, which referred to the region along the West Africa coast. When European colonists divided this area, each of them called their lands.

A fun fact: The British Guinea currency, which was first sold in 1663, was named after the Guinea region in West Africa because gold used to produce came from there.

Why are there two of the Congo?

On both sides of the Congo River lies in two countries called its name: the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo.

The colonial powers have established Belgium and France separate colonies along the river, and the name of each. The Congo name comes from the Kingdom of Congo, the strong kingdom that has once flourished along the river.