Cross-regional relations between North and Sub-Saharan Africa
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North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa are two distinct yet interconnected regions that share a multitude of cultural, religious, economic, migrational, political, and other societal components that affect the cross-regional relationship between both respective continental zones. While there is not one singular standardized definition as to which countries constitute either region, North Africa is broadly defined as the northern portion of Africa encompassing Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, with Western Sahara and Sudan occasionally included. In contrast, sub-Saharan Africa generally refers to the states and territories which lie fully or partially to the south of the Sahara Desert.[1] The shared ties between both regions derive from a variety of elements, including: traditional religious and cultural linkages, joint economic and developmental interests, intra-regional migration between countries of both areas, and evolving political and diplomatic relations between states.
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Traditionally considered by scholars to be two discrete entities—with North Africa commonly studied alongside the Middle East as the MENA region—recent scholarship has reexamined the impact and influence both regions bear on one another, particularly within the context of contemporary events and affairs. This has contributed to an overall shift in pan-Africanist discourse and dialogue in recent decades, with a more inclusively transcontinental view being incrementally adopted within mainstream academia. Such scholarly perspectives align with historical data that indicates both entities as intricately related spheres with shared histories of cultural diffusion and population exchange.[2]
However, on a popular level, this transcontinental view of pan-Africanism has been met with certain resistance, particularly from North Africans and members of distinct ethnic minority groups, many of whom view themselves as unique from their sub-Saharan or ethnic-majority counterparts.[3] However, such systemic exchanges between North and sub-Saharan African countries have diminished this stark line of demarcation over time, illustrating the complexity of the relationship between both regions. This phenomenon can particularly be explicitly observed in the case of sub-Saharan African countries bordering North Africa, such as those located within the Sahel region and within East Africa.[4] Levels of integration between both regions have evolved over time, with current, overarching international relations objectives between states in the two regions formalizing and cementing these relationships.