Ever wonder why Africa’s borders appear so strange?

With 54 countries in total, Africa has the most countries of any continent.

Rather than following natural terrains or historical boundaries, many of its borders are strikingly straight in some areas and jagged in others, cutting through mountains, rivers and even communities.

The majority of these artificial borders date to the 1884-1985 Berlin Conference, a meeting that ended 140 years ago this week when the European powers divided Africa among themselves without any African countries being present or represented.

In this visual explainer, Al Jazeera delves into the stories behind some of the continent’s most unusual borders.

Why doesn’t anyone want Bir Tawil, Egypt or Sudan?

Starting in northeastern Africa is a 2, 000sq-km (795sq-mile) uninhabited, arid piece of land that neither Egypt nor Sudan wants to claim as their own.

In 1899, Britain drew a straight-line border along the 22nd parallel, a line of latitude 22 degrees north of the equator, separating Egypt and Sudan, two territories under British control.

However, in 1902, Britain reassigned the coastal and resource-rich Hala’ib Triangle to Sudan and Bir Tawil to Egypt for geopolitical and administrative reasons.

Decades later, after both countries gained independence, Egypt insisted that the true border should follow the 1899 agreement while Sudan argued that it should follow the 1902 demarcation. Both nations continue to rely on Kir Tawil because claiming it would result in forfeiting Hala’ib Triangle claims.

Egypt has controlled the Hala’ib Triangle since 2000, but the dispute remains unresolved.

Why is The Gambia so narrow?

A sliver of land is almost entirely encircled by Senegal as you travel along Africa’s western coast. The Gambia, the smallest nation on the continent and home to about three million people, is located here.

The Gambia later became a major hub for the transatlantic slave trade after the Portuguese first discovered it in the 15th century. From 1821 until 1965, it was a British colony. The British and French authorities fought over its territorial boundaries because it was close to the then-French Senegal.

In 1889, Britain and France formally established The Gambia’s borders, agreeing that British control would extend about 16km (10 miles) on either side of the river, reaching its furthest navigable point at Yarbutenda.

According to a well-known legend, British forces shot cannonballs from their ships to maintain control over crucial trade routes. Although this claim is unsupported by historical evidence, it is believed that an Anglo-French commission in 1891 attempted to enact laws to regulate the borders but local rulers whose lands were arbitrarily divided opposed this claim.

Ultimately, The Gambia’s borders were shaped by colonial interests and British military power, leaving it as a long, narrow enclave within Senegal.

Why is Cabinda part of Angola?

Heading south along the continent’s western coast, you’ll come across a small section of Angola separated from the rest of the country. This is Cabinda, Angola’s northern province, cut off from the rest of the country by a narrow strip of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Cabinda joined Angola as a result of historical choices made during Portuguese colonial rule.

During the 1884-1885 Berlin Conference, Cabinda was formally recognised as a Portuguese possession, separate from Angola, although both were under Portuguese rule. Cabinda and Angola were administratively merged in Portugal over time, but the area remained geographically and culturally distinct.

When Portugal withdrew from its African colonies in 1975, the Alvor Agreement, signed with Angola’s main liberation groups, excluded Cabindan representation. and Cabinda and Angola merged, primarily because of Cabinda’s lucrative offshore oil reserves.

The Cabindan independence movement, particularly the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda, has been calling for Cabinda’s separation from Angola ever since.

Why does Namibia have a little panhandle?

You might notice a small panhandle jutting out of Namibia as you head into Southern Africa. This is the Caprivi Strip.

Until the early 20th century, Germany controlled German South West Africa (now Namibia) and German East Africa (now Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) while Britain controlled the surrounding territories, including modern-day Botswana and Zambia.

Germany desired access to the Zambezi River and was looking for a direct trade route to connect its territories. The Indian Ocean served as a shortcut to Tanzania by navigating the river.

In exchange for control of the Caprivi Strip, which meets the Zambezi River, and Heligoland, an island in the North Sea, Germany and Britain signed a treaty in 1890.

However, Germany’s transport plan failed. It is believed that no one told the Germans about Victoria Falls – one of the world’s largest waterfalls with a 108-metre (354ft) drop, about 65km (40 miles) east of the strip, making it useless for transport.

Why is South Africa encircling Lesotho?

A small landlocked nation called Lesotho, which is tucked away in the mountains of Southern Africa, is a mere 30 kilometers away.

The Basotho people built their stronghold in the highlands in the 19th century under King Moshoeshoe I, using the mountains as a natural defense against invaders like the Zulu and Boer settlers (Dutch farmers).

To resist Boer expansion, Moshoeshoe sought British protection in 1868, making Basutoland a British protectorate.

Attempts to place it under Colonial Cape rule failed due to Basotho resistance, and in 1884, Britain declared it a crown colony.

When the Union of South Africa formed in 1910, Basutoland remained under British rule, avoiding South Africa’s apartheid policies, and later gained independence in 1966 as Lesotho.

Why is Guinea one of three African nations?

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

They are:

1. Guinea, formerly known as French Guinea, gained independence in 1958 and kept the name Guinea.
2. Guinea-Bissau, formerly known as Portuguese Guinea, gained independence in 1974 and added “Bissau” to its name to differentiate itself from neighbouring Guinea.
3. Equatorial Guinea, formerly known as Spanish Guinea, gained independence in 1968 and added Equatorial to its name because it is near the equator.

A Spanish explorer named Papua New Guinea after the country’s indigenous people because they resembled its people.

Guine, a Portuguese word that refers to the area along the West African coast, is thought to be the source of the name Guinea. This region was divided by European colonists, who each dubbed their territory Guinea.

Fun fact: Because the region of Guinea in West Africa was the source of the gold used to make the British guinea coin, which was first minted in 1663, was named there.

Why are there two Congos?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo are two of the countries with names after them on opposite sides of the Congo River.

Belgium and France, two former colonies along the river, named each after it. The powerful kingdom Kongo, which was once thriving along the river, is the source of the name Congo.

Source: Aljazeera