Colonial legacy of the principle of intangibility of borders and its endless effects.
In this article, I will explore the colonial legacy of the principle of intangibility of borders and its far-reaching impact, particularly on Africans—most notably, Rwandans and Congolese Rwandophones. Through this lens, I seek to unpack how historical boundary-making continues to shape present-day conflicts and identity struggles in our region. The African states that gained official independence were quick to set up structural and politico-legal frameworks that strongly contributed to perpetuating and reinforcing the heavy legacy of the borders inherited from colonization. Thus, in their various fundamental laws, all post-independent African states maintain the “intangible character” of the borders inherited from the colonial era. It could therefor...