CONTESTED BORDERS IN AFRICA DEADLINE NEARS

 BY GRACE MACHA IN ARUSHA

African countries have only four years to resolve their disputed border lines.

The deadline set for redemarcation or refixing of the territorial boundaries that have been disputed by nations is 2027.

This was revealed last Sunday by a representative of the African Union during the launch of a peace caravan aimed to address the issue.

"This is a complex and expensive matter", said a senior official of the African Union (AU) Frederic Gateretse Ngoga at Namanga.

He said the continental body was keen to ensure this was done even as only a few countries have ratified a convention to the effect.

The Niamey Convention which aims to ensure peaceful resolution of border disputes has to date been signed by 18 out of 55 AU member states.

And only nine of the signatories have ratified the Convention. None of the seven members of the East African Community (EAC) bloc has signed or ratified the agreement.

Mr.Ngoga, who was speaking at the  border town, said for the protocol to come into force, it must be ratified by 15 AU member states.

He said redemarcation of the boundaries of African countries stem from the fact that they were a source of conflicts.

"A boundary line that is not well demarcated is a source of most border disputes in the continent", he pointed out.

According to him, currently there are over 100 border disputes among nations in Africa which can trigger serious conflicts if not resolved.

"Unresolved border issues have the potential to escalate into violence and threaten peace and security", he observed.

Such crises can also undermine regional integration efforts " creating insecurity in border communities and the movement of people, goods and services".

Poorly defined and marked borders in Africa present an impending risk that can derail the desired goal of a more united and prosperous continent.

Within the EAC bloc, at least 22 boundary and territorial disputes - both manifest and latent - have been identified following a study carried out in 2021.

Mr. Ngoga, a focal point for the AU Border Programme, said only about 40 percent of the existing border disputes were being resolved but could not say at what stage.

Kenya prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi said although risks of border disputes in the bloc were minimal, they should not be underestimated.

"Vigilance is essential. There should be joint survey and demarcation teams and peaceful resolution of disputes", he said.

Mr. Mudavadi, who once served as Kenya Vice President, added that some border disputes in the EAC have been triggered by lack of joint management of shared natural resources.

His remarks were echoed by the EAC deputy secretary general in charge of Productive, Social, Infrastructure and Political Sectors Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth.

He said a recent study has revealed that some all EAC partner states have experienced varying degrees of intra–and extra–regional border challenges.

The potential for the unresolved issues to escalate into violence and threaten peace, security and regional integration cannot, therefore, be ruled out.

The peace caravan and benchmarking tour launched at Namanga border town aimed to promote good neighbourliness among the communities

The border town between Tanzania and Kenya was used as a showcase in which local communities have lived in harmony that should be replicated across the region.

The seven-day caravan involved representatives of the Atekar community composed of Turkana from Kenya,Toposa(South Sudan and the Karamajong of Uganda.

Also roped in are the Maasai community where the border communities between Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda will learn from the former about peaceful co-existence.

In some parts of Africa - the EAC bloc included- border conflicts have been aggravated by Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) proliferation.