Buzz
When border walls come up in conversation, people usually think of the Berlin Wall, the barrier separating North and South Korea, or the wall that President Donald Trump aims to construct along the US-Mexico border.
While Trump's proposed wall has sparked debates, there seems to be little attention given to other walls emerging in various places—or to those that have been standing for years. In fact, there are more walls splitting nations than most realize.
10. Moroccan Wall
The Moroccan Wall, also known as the 'Berm', stretches 2,600 kilometers (1,600 miles) across the Western Sahara. This imposing barrier stands 3 meters (10 feet) high and is constructed from desert sand. It is fortified with electric fences, radar systems, barbed wire, Moroccan troops, and an estimated seven million land mines, making it the longest minefield in the world and one of the most heavily guarded borders.
The reason for this is that Western Sahara is a contested region. While many view it as part of southern Morocco, the local population claims it is part of the largely unrecognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The Polisario Front, which advocates for the independence and international recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, controls the part of Western Sahara located outside the wall.
Despite the barrier, the Polisario Front continues to carry out attacks on Moroccan forces across the border. They often dig tunnels beneath the wall to bypass it. The real victims of the ongoing Morocco–Polisario Front conflict are the people of Western Sahara, trapped on either side of the wall. Many of them have lost their lives due to land mines.
9. Baghdad Wall
The Baghdad Wall is a 4-kilometer-long (2.5 mi) concrete structure that divides the Sunni and Shiite sections of Baghdad. Before its construction, Sunni militias frequently launched attacks against Shiite civilians, the Shiite-majority Iraqi military, and US forces. In retaliation, Shiite militias also targeted Sunni civilians.
The wall was constructed by US forces around southern Ghazaliya, a stronghold of the Sunni militia. While the barrier helped decrease violence and killings, it has caused concern among the Sunni population, who fear being isolated from the rest of Baghdad. Some believe the wall isn't for their protection, but rather to keep them contained while Shiite militias focus on other Sunni groups outside the wall.
Additionally, certain businesses and services catering to the Sunni community are located outside the wall, which exacerbates the anxiety. Shortly after the wall's construction, Sunni insurgents attempted to destroy it with explosives. They were unsuccessful, only managing to cause minor damage that was later repaired.
8. Botswana-Zimbabwe Electric Fence
Zimbabwe and Botswana are divided by a 500-kilometer-long (310 mi) electric fence, 2 meters (6 ft) high, constructed by Botswana. The government of Botswana claims the fence is crucial to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, which is allegedly brought in by cattle smuggled from Zimbabwe.
If this is accurate, it's clear why Botswana would be concerned about the disease. In 2003, when the proposal for the wall was made, Botswana was grappling with a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak that forced farmers to cull thousands of cattle. This epidemic posed a significant threat to Botswana's economy, as cattle farming was its second-largest source of income.
However, Zimbabwe insists that the fence isn't about disease control. Instead, they argue it's a measure by Botswana to keep Zimbabweans from crossing the border. At the time the fence was proposed, Zimbabwe was struggling with rampant inflation and extreme unemployment, leading many to attempt illegal crossings into neighboring Botswana.
Interestingly, Botswana never activated the electric fence, nor did they patrol it to prevent either people or animals from crossing the border illegally.
7. South Africa–Mozambique Electric Fence
South Africa has set up an electric fence along its borders with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The portion of the fence along Mozambique, known as the 'Snake of Fire' by locals, was linked to the deaths of hundreds of civilians fleeing the Mozambican Civil War in 1990. The fence delivered a lethal 3,500-volt shock to anyone who touched it.
Electric fences generally come in lethal and nonlethal models. Nonlethal versions can deliver shocks up to 10,000 volts in a split second. While these shocks are enough to deter individuals from attempting to breach the fence, they do not cause fatal injuries due to the brief contact.
The lethal version, used in South Africa, provides continuous shocks that are fatal. Those fortunate enough to survive typically suffer severe burns or even lose body parts.
The South African Catholic Bureau for Refugees reported that the fence claimed over 200 civilian lives each year. In contrast, the South African Defense Force stated that only 89 people died in three years. Regardless of the exact numbers, the fence caused more deaths than the Berlin Wall did in its 28 years of existence. An entire industry even emerged around helping people evade the fence, with Mozambican civilians paying guides to navigate safer routes.
An alternative route was to traverse through an area without a fence that led directly into South Africa's renowned Kruger National Park, famous for its pride of lions. The journey through the park to mainland South Africa typically took 24 hours, providing enough time for travelers to be hunted and eaten by the park's hungry lions. Soldiers stationed at the park frequently reported finding remains of people consumed by lions.
Some lions became so desperate that they turned into man-eaters, abandoning their usual prey for human flesh. These lions grew increasingly bold, even attacking and killing reserve wardens. Although the fence still stands, it is no longer electrified or actively guarded. Over time, it has been cut in several spots and is largely in disrepair.
6. Peace Walls - Northern Ireland
Peace Walls aren't a single barrier, but rather a collection of over 60 walls scattered across Belfast, Northern Ireland. In some areas, these walls are just short wooden fences, while in others, they stand as tall concrete barriers. These walls were constructed during the Troubles to separate the politically and religiously opposing unionists and nationalists.
Before the walls were built, both sides launched attacks on each other. Over time, walls began to appear around neighborhoods that were particularly susceptible to this violence. At that time, these walls provided a sense of security to the residents.
Interestingly, most of the walls were constructed after the Troubles ended. These barriers are gradually being dismantled, with plans to have them completely removed by 2023.
5. Project Wall - Ukraine
Project Wall is a planned 2,000-kilometer-long (1,200 mi) fence and trench system designed to separate Ukraine from Russia. Funded by Ukraine, its purpose is to prevent any future Russian invasions. The construction began after Russia's annexation of Crimea, but the fence remains incomplete and may never be finished due to ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Ukraine lacks the necessary funds to complete the fence, and much of the limited budget allocated has been siphoned off by corrupt contractors and border guards. Additionally, the fenced sections of the border are often substandard and compromised. As of now, Ukraine has only managed to dig 273 kilometers (169 mi) of trenches and fence 83 kilometers (52 mi) of the border.
Some defense experts question the practicality of the fence and trench system. The fence is unguarded, and the trench is unlikely to slow down Russian tanks. Ukraine has postponed its completion date from 2018 to 2021, and its government has stated that it cannot afford the fence alone. It plans to seek financial assistance from other European countries. Meanwhile, Russia is also building a fence to separate Crimea from Ukraine.
4. Great Wall
The Great Wall is a 966-kilometer-long (600 mi) fence and trench system separating Saudi Arabia from Iraq. The Saudis first considered building the wall in 2006 due to concerns that combatants from the Iraqi Civil War could launch cross-border attacks into Saudi territory.
In 2014, Saudi Arabia began constructing the barrier after observing ISIS seize a significant portion of Iraq’s territory along its border. The Saudis were concerned that ISIS might be planning an invasion into Saudi territory.
The wall is reinforced with five parallel fences, watchtowers, surveillance systems, and over 30,000 soldiers. During its construction in 2015, ISIS launched an attack on a border post in an effort to disrupt the project. The attack resulted in the deaths of three border guards, including General Oudah al-Belawi, who was in charge of northern border operations for Saudi Arabia.
In addition to the border with Iraq, Saudi Arabia is also building a 1,600-kilometer-long (1,000 mi) wall along its border with Yemen.
3. India-Bangladesh Fence
Seventy percent of India’s 4,100-kilometer-long (2,500 mi) border with Bangladesh is secured by a fence. The 2.4-meter-high (8 ft) barrier is equipped with barbed wire and, in some locations, an electric fence. The construction began in the 1980s after violence erupted in Assam over the issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants. Despite this, the fence has not been entirely successful, as Bangladeshi immigrants and even terrorists still manage to cross.
Border guards, often corrupt, accept bribes from illegal Bangladeshi migrants to let them pass. Some immigrants also present counterfeit documents to bypass the system, while others simply cross the rivers that run along the border, areas that remain unfenced, making up 1,116 kilometers (693 mi) of the boundary.
India has faced criticism for its harsh treatment of illegal Bangladeshi migrants. Between 2001 and 2010, Indian border guards killed 900 Bangladeshis.
Some of those killed were not even illegal immigrants but Bangladeshi farmers living near the border. Others were shot while attempting to return to Bangladesh after crossing illegally to visit family in India.
2. Egypt-Gaza Wall
In contrast to the other barriers we have discussed, the Egypt-Gaza wall is built underground. It was created to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza through tunnels that connect to Egypt. Israel enforces a stringent blockade on Gaza, severely controlling imports, which has made it difficult for people to bring in essential goods like food.
To circumvent the blockade, people have turned to smuggling goods through tunnels that originate in Egypt. These tunnels are controlled by Hamas, which provides lighting and collects taxes on the smuggled goods. Hamas also operates its own secret tunnels for transporting weapons. While the wall was built with the primary goal of targeting these illicit tunnels, it also affects the regular tunnels used to bring in vital supplies like food.
Egypt reports that the underground wall stretches for 10 kilometers (6 miles) and is designed to be impervious to cutting or melting. It was constructed with support from the US. Meanwhile, Israel is also constructing an underground barrier along its 64-kilometer-long (40 miles) border with Gaza.
The underground wall aims to disrupt the tunnels used by Hamas to carry out attacks against Israel. Although Israel has not disclosed the wall's exact depth, it has stated that the project is expected to be completed in 2019.
1. Ceuta And Melilla Fences
Ceuta and Melilla are two Spanish territories located in North Africa. Although geographically separated from mainland Spain, they are considered part of the country. Regular ferry services connect these cities to Spain's mainland.
As a result of migrants from Africa attempting to enter these cities by sneaking onto ferries headed to Spain, the Spanish government built fences along the borders both cities share with Morocco to prevent unauthorized entries.
The European Union also provides millions of euros to both Spain and Morocco to assist in preventing migrants from reaching these cities, and consequently entering Europe via Spain. The fence in Melilla stretches over 11 kilometers (7 miles) and consists of three parallel barriers, equipped with razor blades, alarms, and pepper spray. However, the pepper spray system is currently inactive.
