The question you asked is about the impact of the borders of the countries discussed in the text. The text is “They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky”, which is a memoir of three Lost Boys of Sudan who fled their villages during the Second Sudanese Civil War and survived a long and perilous journey across Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya before resettling in America. The borders of these countries have put a strain on the relations between various ethnic groups for several reasons. Here are some of them:
The borders were largely drawn by colonial powers without regard for the ethnic, cultural, or historical ties of the people living in those regions. For example, the border between Sudan and Ethiopia was established by the British colonial administration in May 1902, creating Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. This border divided some ethnic groups, such as the Nuer and the Anuak, between two countries with different political and economic systems.
The borders have been disputed and contested by different groups who claim historical or ancestral rights to certain territories. For example, the Ilemi Triangle is an area of about 14,000 square kilometers that lies between Kenya, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. It has been claimed by all three countries and has been a source of conflict and tension for decades. The area is rich in natural resources, such as water, pasture, and minerals, and is inhabited by various pastoralist communities, such as the Turkana, the Toposa, and the Nyangatom.
The borders have been affected by political instability and violence in the neighboring countries. For example, the border between Sudan and Kenya was impacted by the civil war in Sudan, which forced millions of refugees to flee to Kenya and other countries. The influx of refugees strained the resources and services of the host countries and created humanitarian and security challenges. The border was also used by rebel groups, such as the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), to launch attacks or seek support from neighboring countries.