There are few places on Earth with no flag, no government, and no official owner. But in Africa, there is a stretch of land that no country claims as its own.
Known as Bir Tawil, the small, abandoned territory has been left in limbo due to a century-old border dispute between Egypt and Sudan.
The 795-square-mile region is located between the two countries, but neither wants it. Hence the name “Africa’s nobody’s land”.
The confusion dates back to 1899, when Britain, which controlled the region at the time, established the 22nd parallel as the official border.
However, in 1902, the boundary was adjusted to better reflect how local tribes used the land.
The Hala’ib Triangle, a coastal area along the Red Sea, was placed under Sudan’s control, while Bir Tawil – mostly desert and without water – was placed under Egypt’s administration.
Decades later, both Egypt and Sudan lay claim to the Hala’ib Triangle, which is much larger and has access to the sea.
But because neither country can legally claim both regions under international law, Bir Tawil remains unwanted, making it one of the only places on Earth with no official owner.
The land itself is harsh and uninhabitable. It is hot, dry, and desolate, with summer temperatures often reaching 45C.
The terrain consists mostly of sand and rock, with no permanent water sources. There are no towns, no infrastructure, and no government presence.
The only people who occasionally pass through are nomadic tribes, such as the Ababda and Bishari, as well as gold miners who have set up unregulated camps in search of hidden deposits.
Despite its isolation, Bir Tawil has attracted international attention from individuals claiming it as their own “micronation.”
In 2014, an American man traveled there and declared it the Kingdom of North Sudan, supposedly so his daughter could be a princess.
Others have made similar claims online, but none have been recognized by any government or international body.
Leave a comment