“This paper examines the potential of Africa’s international boundaries as sources of conflict and future threats to peace and security on the continent. It argues that
although border-related inter-state conflicts have been displaced by governance-related intra-state conflict, Africa’s poorly demarcated boundaries are still potent
sources of conflict, particularly as far as the spilling over of intra-state conflicts to neighbouring countries is concerned.
Despite the artificial and unviable character of the borders of many African states, the continent’s governing elite has
over the years stuck to a policy of maintaining the status quo of the continent’s internationally recognised borders. However, a number of persistent pressures have recently forced a rethink on the approach to be taken to the management of Africa’s boundary problems, with the focus
being on the proper delineation and demarcation of borders.”
