Chapter 317: Agreement on the Delimitation of the East-Egypt Boundary
On March 14, 1871, while Ernst was visiting Sweden, East Africa and Egypt formally signed the "Agreement on the Delimitation of the Border between the Kingdom of East Africa and Egypt." This agreement established the border between the two nations.
The situation leading to this agreement had its origins in 1870 when the Sudanese region of Egypt noticed a sudden increase in the number of East Africans in their inland areas. The news reached Khartoum when a Buganda prince, who had fled to Sudan, reported that the Buganda Kingdom had been subsumed by East Africa.
Around 1868, following the integration of the original Buganda Kingdom into East Africa, East African forces began exploring the Upper Nile Basin along the Nile River, advancing from the main course of the White Nile to the Gezila Plain in Sudan.
During this period, East Africa was still in its colonial phase and was mainly focused on surveying and mapping the Sudanese rivers. However, during the third war of conquest, East Africa seized the opportunity to occupy the entire Upper Nile Basin, connecting the lands of the Azande Plateau and the Ethiopian Plateau. This essentially encompassed most of the territory that would later become South Sudan.
With this, East Africa now shared a border with Egypt, a development that took Egypt by surprise. Egypt was naturally anxious about this sudden presence, particularly in the Khartoum area, the heartland of Sudan. The Gezira Plain south of Khartoum was a vital region, situated between the Blue Nile and the White Nile. Stretching nearly 250 kilometers in length and 120 kilometers in width, it featured fertile soil and flat terrain, making it Sudan's most important irrigated agricultural area.
If the Gezira Plain were to be lost, Egypt's rule in Sudan would crumble entirely. Although other regions held larger landmasses, much of it was akin to the deserts on either side of the Nile River in Egypt, rendering them practically useless.
Hence, the Egyptian government urgently dispatched diplomats to negotiate with East Africa to prevent the Kingdom from moving further north. Although Egypt held a position of strength, it was naturally wary of Europeans and sought to avoid a two-front conflict. This compelled Egypt to engage in discreet negotiations with East Africa.
When Egypt proposed negotiations, East Africa saw an opportunity to strike a favorable deal. Ernst spent an entire day scrutinizing maps to formulate a sincere proposal.
The negotiation site was in Egypt, specifically in Kusti, the southernmost river port city on the Nile. Kusti lay on the left bank of the White Nile, 260 kilometers away from Khartoum. It served as a hub for the distribution of cotton, gum arabic, livestock, fish, and grains. Kusti played a crucial role as a transportation nexus, facilitating the movement of goods between Khartoum, Obaid, and Juba.
The signatory for the agreement from Egypt was Rahman, a senior official overseeing the Khartoum region. The East African Kingdom had temporarily stationed a minister in Egypt, with the first minister being named Miles.
In Kusti, Miles presented Rahman with the final proposal, clearly stating East Africa's resolution regarding the border between the two countries. He emphasized that if Egypt couldn't accept it, they would regretfully withdraw from the negotiation.
Rahman was taken aback by the threat but resisted the urge to snatch the blueprint from Miles. Instead, he examined it carefully.
Rahman remarked, "Mr. Myers, I must clarify that the Sultanate of Darfur is an independent nation and not under Egypt's control."
Miles, unaware of Egypt's territorial boundaries, assumed that the northern part of East Africa was part of Sudan. This miscommunication could be attributed to information provided by the Kingdom. Nonetheless, Miles remained undeterred.
Miles asked, "Ah, I see. You mentioned the Sultanate of Darfur, correct?"
Rahman affirmed, "Yes, Excellency Miles, the Sultanate of Darfur has always maintained its independence. While we have some trade relations, it could be considered a vassal state under our name. However, it is too distant from us for us to exert effective control. Therefore, Egypt cannot claim the Sultanate of Darfur."
Miles, grasping the context, inquired further, "What about the Kordofan area?"
Rahman explained, "The Kingdom of Kordofan was founded by the Fur people. While it is theoretically our vassal state, the Fur people in Kordofan resisted our authority, limiting our control to certain regions."
Miles realized that the northern part of the East African Kingdom was essentially under Egypt's influence, except for a small area.
Miles said, "So, these two countries are essentially vassal states of Egypt. If you sell them to us unilaterally, we will manage the rest."
Rahman agreed, "In principle, these regions fall under Egypt's suzerainty, but we can only hand over control of the Darfur Sultanate and the Kordofan Kingdom to you in Egypt's name. You will need to negotiate with them on your own."
While Rahman might appear generous, this decision stemmed from his awareness that Egypt would face a formidable challenge in dealing with the East African Kingdom.
Miles inquired, "Mr. Rahman, we have no issues with these two countries, but it's a bit too much for you to include the southern part of the Gezira Plain in your territory. This region has historically belonged to Egypt."
Miles was referring to the southern portion of the Gezira Plain, which was vital for Egypt's control of Sudan.
Rahman protested, "The southern part of the Gezira Plain has always been considered Egyptian territory by all parties. Despite our lack of military presence there, even the Abyssinian Empire refrains from asserting sovereignty over that area."
Miles pointed out, "We, in East Africa, do not have a deep understanding of this region. It's not our responsibility to study street signs in Egypt. If you want to avoid misunderstandings, it's best to make it clear."
This exchange of words was more than just a discussion; it was a negotiation tactic. East Africa aimed to secure concessions in other areas by occupying the southern part of the Gezira Plain.
The significance of the Gezira Plain to the Sudan region was akin to the importance of the lands along the Nile River to Egypt. Losing control of it would have dire consequences for Egypt's rule in Sudan.
Rahman relented, "Since it's come to this, and the misunderstanding has been resolved, can your country withdraw from the southern part of the Gezira Plain?"
Miles agreed, "Certainly, but to ensure the safety of the Nile River waterway, we must retain part of the land in the western region."
This concession prompted Rahman to ponder the situation.
Miles then drew a north-south line on the map, indicating the small area that East Africa was willing to relinquish.
Miles clarified, "We don't ask for much, mainly along the White Nile, and we are not interested in the Blue Nile."
This compromise eased Rahman's concerns, and he agreed, "Very well, this arrangement is reasonable."
Miles concluded, "Then let's sign it. There should be no future conflicts of interest between our two nations."