Contrary to the conventional wisdom, borders in Africa were not arbitrarily drawn by European colonial powers. Europeans intensely studied on-the-ground conditions, negotiated with local African rulers, and learned about historical state frontiers, which influenced the border-drawing.

Contrary to the conventional wisdom, borders in Africa were not arbitrarily drawn by European colonial powers. Europeans intensely studied on-the-ground conditions, negotiated with local African rulers, and learned about historical state frontiers, which influenced the border-drawing.

Source: cambridge.org

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/endogenous-colonial-borders-precolonial-states-and-geography-in-the-partition-of-africa/132D6CBDE92946D14CCC64E59A94D3D2