As a result of the
Scramble for Africa in the 1880s
France had gained control the upper valley of the
Niger River (roughly equivalent to the areas of modern Mali and
Niger). France occupied this area in 1900; Mali (then referred to as
French Sudan) was originally included, along with modern Niger and
Burkina Faso, within the
Upper Senegal and Niger colony and became a constituent of the federal colony of
French West Africa (
Afrique occidentale française, abbreviated AOF). The internal divisions of AOF underwent several changes during its existence; what are now Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso were initially united as Upper Senegal and Niger, with Niger constituting a military territory ruled from
Zinder. The Niger military territory was split off in 1911, becoming a separate colony in 1922, and Mali and Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) were constituted as separate colonies in 1919. Eventually, in 1960, both Mali and Upper Volta (renamed Burkina Faso in 1984) gained independence, and their mutual frontier became an international one between two states. Fighting then erupted in late 1974, continuing into the new year, before an
Organisation of African Unity-sponsored ceasefire took effect by which both states agreed to set up a technical commission to resolve the dispute peacefully. Tensions mounted yet again, especially after
Thomas Sankara seized power in Upper Volta in 1982. Fighting erupted in 1985 in the so-called
Christmas War. A ceasefire was declared, and the case was referred to the
International Court of Justice, which split the territory almost equally between the two states in 1986. In more recent years the border has become insecure owing to the fallout from the
Mali War. ==Settlements near the border==