15/11/2024
Today we commemorate 140 years since representatives of 13 nations in Europe and the United States met on 15 November 1884 in Berlin to lay down rules to guide them in the scramble for Africa. The signing of *The General Act of Berlin* on 26 February 1885 formalised European colonisation of Africa. Contrary to widespread belief, the delegates did not sit at a table with pencils and rulers to draw current African boundaries. After agreeing on how they will possess territories in Africa, it took two decades to draw boundaries of their possessions, which were fully recognized and adopted by African leaders in July 1964 in Cairo. Since then African leaders have fully committed to respect these colonial boundaries despite having been drawn in the interests of Europeans. Ironically, we continue to blame these colonial boundaries for being sources of disputes between African countries, yet we have declared them sacrosanct and inviolable. It's absurd to continue blaming Europeans for 60 years for engaging in an act that suited their interests while doing nothing to remake African boundaries to reflect African interests. It's only on current African boundaries where colonial history persists and is passionately celebrated by Africans. As we acknowledge this historic day, let's also remember that African boundaries are now African and Africans bear the primary responsibility of making them to work for Africa. No more blaming Berlin conference of 15 November 1884--26 February 1885 for our inability to transform colonial boundaries to African boundaries.
