Trans-Border Ethnic Groups and Conflict Dynamics in Africa: An Evaluation of Bakongo in DRC and Angola

Authors : Hande Sapmaz

Pages : 189-208

Doi:10.53791/imgelem.1778620

View : 124 | Download : 402

Publication Date : 2025-12-28

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :This study examines how artificial borders drawn during the colonial period in Africa transformed the spatial distribution of ethnic groups and laid the groundwork for political conflicts involving transboundary ethnic groups. The borders drawn at the 1884-1885 Berlin Conference disregarded ethnic, linguistic, and cultural integrity, resulting in the division of many African ethnic groups among multiple states. The uti possidetis juris principle, adopted by the Organization of African Unity in 1964, preserved these borders, and fragmented ethnic communities have continued to exist today. This study analyzes the Bakongo\\\'s experiences with political exclusion, perceptions of inequality in access to resources, and practices of ethnic mobilization to understand how they position themselves in conflicts and what strategies they adopt. Relying on a comparative case study design, the research employs qualitative data and secondary sources to analyze the Bakongo community, which spans Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ultimately, the Bakongo in Angola demonstrate strong mobilization based on their experiences of political exclusion and perceptions of unequal access to resources. In contrast, the Bakongo in the DRC exhibit more limited political mobilization, revealing that the participation of the same ethnic community in conflicts varies depending on the state context. This contrast highlights how state context mediates the impact of colonial border legacies on ethnic conflict dynamics, contributing insights to debates on postcolonial boundaries and conflict formation in Africa.
Keywords : Sınıraşan etnik gruplar, Bakongo, Angola, Demokratik Kongo Cumhuriyeti (KDC), Çatışma dinamikleri.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL