SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The thesis examines the international boundaries of the Nile Basin and discusses them in the context of inter-state cooperation. The first aim of the study is to decide how far the boundaries have or have not been responsible for any difficulties in relations between the various states. This question is a central one in political geography. Many writers have noted that the rapid and arbitrary nature of boundary-making by European colonial powers in Africa has left independent African states with serious and intractable problems associated with their unsatisfactory colonial boundaries, drawn up with little or no reference to the geographical realities - both physical and human - in an area. While some writers suggest that the international boundaries can actually cause inter-state conflict - others argue that such conflict is unlikely ever to result from the nature of the boundary itself. The present study aims to examine the evidence about this issue in a specific geographical area in Africa - the Nile Basin - where the circumstances, both physical and human, surrounding the international boundaries are very varied and where there are several classic instances of so-called 'bad' boundaries which ignore natural and human considerations and so create tension between states. The second aim of the thesis is to place the evidence and conclusions about the significance of international boundaries in the context of inter-state relations and cooperation in the Nile Basin. How can governments ensure that their boundaries function solely as the territorial limits of administration and not as barriers to all movement and contact between states? This question is examined with reference to attempts at inter-state cooperation for the use of the Nile waters and, more generally, within the context of regional and supra-regional organizations, notably the Organization of African Unity.