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54
Borders in Africa are contested spaces that by extension migration policies and responses.
impact state and human security. Additionally, However, the involvement of national govern-
intra-regional cross-border migration predates ments in border governance in Africa has not
colonialism in Africa. However, new post-co- resulted in national level legal reforms to har-
lonial national borders and by inference the monize international border and migration
exclusive definitions of citizenship, ensured provisions with domestic policies. Operational
that African states resorted to mass expulsions agencies are, therefore, compelled to operate in
of migrants considered to be foreigners or the context of legal and procedural incoherence
aliens as tools for managing national migration occasioned by a state of disharmony between
issues even as late as the 2000s. This strat- national and international legal frameworks on
egy of mass expulsions of migrants as a means borders and migration issues.
for controlling populations in some instances
led to the exploitation of intra-communal and Border disputes directly affect the territorial
inter-community dynamics, and in the worst dimension upon which sovereign authority
cases further strained already tense inter-state is exercised, hence, the use of force by states
relations where border disputes previously dealing with such disputes. Furthermore, with
existed.1 just about a quarter of borders in Africa effec-
tively demarcated and weak national capacity
West Africa has a long history of designing to control borders,4 there are vast border spaces
sub-regional approaches to managing issues that are still not under legitimate sovereign
related to borders and migration since 1979. control in the context of combatting transna-
Although on paper and in theory West African tional organized crime and illicit trade in small
states have sought after harmonious relations arms and light weapons (SALW), narcotics and
with varied levels of progress, mass expul- fake medicines. In addition, curbing human
sions of migrants by individual states have trafficking and minimizing the existence of safe
routinely occurred until the 2000s.2 In spite of havens for recruitment towards radicalization,
these setbacks, substantial progress has been extremism and terrorism becomes difficult.
achieved in the sub-region since the Economic While national border demarcation and control
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is important in ensuring effective sovereign con-
was established in May 1975, particularly trol over specific border areas, transitional coop-
regarding the 90-days visa-free regime and the erative arrangements among local government
right to residence by ECOWAS Member States entities located along national borders in Africa
citizens.3 While these policy interventions cre- is equally critical in facilitating the attainment
ate an impression of the efficacy of ECOWAS’s of a better quality of life for people through
supranational influence, national governments reduced cost of trade and economic growth in
remain at the center of border governance with border regions.
virtually no roles for local government entities
across borders. This conceptual and operational The purpose of this paper is to explore the
lacunae as to where and who controls border issue of border governance in Africa in times
bedevils border management strategies and of migration. It highlights existing mechanisms
Borders 55
deadline was extended to 2017, but that aim by Furthermore, the strategy highlights inter-state
all indications will not be achieved in 2017.8 cooperation at the local government level within
border regions with decreased importance
Cross-Border Governance of national state governments. By promoting
this kind of cooperation, cross-border govern-
Border governance expresses the cooperative ance also provides transparent and cooperative
relationships among local government enti- tructures – often involving national actors – that
ties co-existing along national borderlines in steer such cooperation. In this regard, Deppisch
furtherance of their mutual development.9 The (2012) establishes five factors that influence
cooperative relationship can be bilateral but also governance capability in cross-border regions.
multi-lateral – involving several local govern- First, is the extent to which the border region
ment entities in a border region. Proponents of becomes both financially and politically auton-
cross-border governance argue that reduction omous in responding to its own needs rather
of trade costs across borders stimulates trade than reacting to decisions driven from the
and growth on both sides of a common border respective national capitals. From this perspec-
though several factors affect the distribution tive, the influencing factors for effective cross-
of the effects.10 By targeting local government border governance include: the actors involved
entities as focal institutional actors, the concept in making and implementing decisions includ-
places territorial spaces beyond the immediate ing local political and administrative actors,
borderline environment under one geographical but also power brokers, the manner in which
zone to pursue common economic development the relationships between the actors are man-
objectives.11 aged in a way that generates trust among local
Borders 57
Escape: For various reasons, including a large number of armed conflicts, millions of people are on the run in
Sub-Saharan Africa. Source: © Siegfried Modola, Reuters.
Borders 59
Borders 61
Treaty on Trans-Border Cooperation with the in the sub-region prior to 1979 when the first
local government in Ogun State headquartered set of E COWAS protocols on free movement
in Abeokuta, Nigeria with the endorsement of of persons, residence and establishment was
the two State parties.21 An interesting region is adopted. As stated, these expulsions of migrants
the Liptoka / Tillabéri region where a great deal were underpinned by exclusionary definitions of
of cross-border activities exist between Niger, citizenship and the need to control national pop-
Mali and Burkina Faso. ulations. Prior to 1979, Côte d’Ivoire expelled
non-Ivoirians in 1958 and 1964. Senegal fol-
Free Movement of Persons lowed suit in 1967. Ghana expelled Nigerians in
1969. Sierra Leone and Guinea-Conakry did the
Intra-regional migration management poli- same in 1968.22 Sub-regional migration man-
cies in West Africa were prompted by a spate agement policies, however, did not immediately
of mass expulsions of migrants by countries abate the feature of mass expulsions of migrants
Borders 63
Borders 65