Sudan’s Soft Borders: Past, Present, and Future

This paper had been presented for promotion at the University of Khartoum. To get the full text please contact the other at heahmed@uofk.edu hhag2@yahoo.comGoing back to Sudan’s recent history, its borders were not fixed with the intention to exclude and contain, but rather they are fluid and soft allowing waves of migrants to engage, mingle and settle in the country. This paper aims to examine the historical pattern of soft borders in Sudan, along with the current situation, and prospect for the future. Further it will analyze the implications of this notion, and what lessons can be drawn for Sudan-South Sudan relations. The paper proposes that having soft borders between the two countries will suit the historical pattern of borders in the two states; in addition it will accommodate global changes which render hard borders less significant