Beyond the Mapmakers: Unveiling the Endogenous Roots of Africa's Colonial Borders

This research finds that 62% of all bilateral borders were directly influenced by historical political frontiers, challenging the notion of their arbitrary placement. Instead, it reveals a legacy of deliberate consideration and interaction with Africa's precolonial states and natural geography in the partition of the continent. This perspective not only corrects historical inaccuracies but also highlights the importance of indigenous political structures and natural landscapes in shaping Africa's political map.