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Development, not division: local versus external perceptions of the Niger–Nigeria boundary

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2005

William F. S. Miles
William F. S. Miles
Affiliation:
Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts. Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
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Abstract

This article traces the evolution of the Nigérien–Nigerian boundary over the past 20 years. It focuses in particular on a single border crossing that separates two neighbouring Hausa villages of equivalent demographic size, administrative status, and economic importance. During the past two decades, border control, monitoring and surveillance have gradually intensified, resulting in the establishment of immigration and customs offices on the Nigerian side of the boundary and a douane (customs) post on the Nigérien side. However, local inhabitants do not view these changes in terms of ethnic partition or division. Rather, they see border control infrastructure positively, in terms both of development and national identity. For the border line Hausa, identity is not zero-sum: feeling more and more Nigérien/Nigerian does not result in diminution of their ‘Hausa-ness’. Post-9/11 international pressures to intensify border controls and monitoring in regions where Muslim extremists are thought to shelter highlight contradictions between indigenous and international conceptions of the African frontier.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Modern African Studies , Volume 43 , Issue 2 , June 2005 , pp. 297 - 320
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Fieldwork for this project has been provided principally by the Fulbright research programme (1983–84, 1986) and also by the American Philosophical Society (2000–4). The main title for this article was suggested by my Northeastern University colleague Professor Christopher Bosso. Two anonymous JMAS reviewers made multiple and helpful comments on a previous version of this paper, which was first presented at Harvard University's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs on 16 March 2004. As always, godiya go to Lawal Nuhu of Yardaje.