ABSTRACT
The African Union Border Programme (AUBP) is an epoch-making development in African international law and international relations. It is based on an audacious move to finalise the delimitation and demarcation of all African territories within an ambitious timetable in order to forestall territorial and boundary disputes in and around the continent. In a sense, it is impossible to conceptualise the future of dispute resolution on the continent without recognising the influence the AUBP would have had by the time it is considered complete. This chapter examines the law and practice of the AUBP and evaluates its chances of successful completion. The Peace and Security Department (PSD) of the Commission of the African Union (AU) provides support to the efforts aimed at promoting peace, security and stability on the continent. Finally, the chapter discusses the general problem of cost of delimitation and demarcation, and particularly the prohibitive nature of costs to developing states.
