How Many Landlocked Countries Are In Africa

How Many Landlocked Countries Are in Africa? A Deep Dive into 16 Nations Without Sea Access

Africa, a continent of immense geographical diversity, is home to a surprising number of nations completely surrounded by the territory of other countries. These landlocked countries face unique developmental, economic, and geopolitical challenges that their coastal neighbors do not. Understanding their number, identity, and circumstances is crucial for grasping the complex tapestry of the African continent. There are 16 sovereign landlocked countries in Africa. This count is a fixed geographical reality, but the stories behind these nations and the implications of their landlocked status are dynamic and deeply significant.

The Complete List of Africa's Landlocked Nations

The 16 countries are not a random collection but are distributed across different regions of the continent, each with its own history and set of neighbors. They are:

1. Botswana (Surrounded by South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia)
2. Burkina Faso (Surrounded by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire)
3. Burundi (Surrounded by Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
4. Central African Republic (Surrounded by Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon)
5. Chad (Surrounded by Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger)
6. Eswatini (Surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique) - Note: While Eswatini is landlocked, it is a small kingdom entirely within South Africa, with a short eastern border with Mozambique.
7. Ethiopia (Surrounded by Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, and South Sudan)
8. Lesotho (An enclave completely surrounded by South Africa)
9. Malawi (Surrounded by Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique)
10. Mali (Surrounded by Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania)
11. Niger (Surrounded by Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Algeria)
12. Rwanda (Surrounded by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
13. South Sudan (Surrounded by Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia)
14. Swaziland (Now officially Eswatini, see #6)
15. Uganda (Surrounded by South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya)
16. Zambia (Surrounded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Tanzania)
17. Zimbabwe (Surrounded by Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, and Botswana)

Note: The count is 16. Eswatini (Swaziland) and Lesotho are enclaves, a specific type of landlocked state entirely surrounded by a single other country.

Historical Roots: Why So Many Landlocked States?

The existence of these 16 nations is not a matter of natural geography alone but is largely a legacy of colonial border-making. During the "Scramble for Africa" in the late 19th century, European powers (Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Italy) partitioned the continent with little regard for ethnic, linguistic, or economic continuities. They drew lines on maps to secure resources and strategic territories.

• The "Effective Occupation" Principle: The Berlin Conference of 1884-85 established that claims to African territory required "effective occupation." This spurred a race to claim land, often using rivers or latitudes as convenient borders, regardless of whether the resulting territory had sea access.
• Strategic Inland Capitals: Colonial powers sometimes deliberately created inland administrative regions or "capitals" (like Khartoum for Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, or Brazzaville for French Equatorial Africa) that were landlocked, prioritizing control over a hinterland over coastal access.
• Enclave Creation: The cases of Lesotho (Basutoland) and Eswatini (Swaziland) are direct results of colonial strategy. The British and Boers carved these territories out as buffers and reserves for specific ethnic groups, leaving them surrounded by what became South Africa.
• Post-Colonial Inheritance: When African nations gained independence in the mid-20th century, they generally accepted the uti possidetis juris principle—maintaining existing international borders—to avoid endless territorial wars. Thus, the landlocked status of these new states was cemented.

The Core Challenge: The "Landlocked Penalty"

Being landlocked imposes a substantial economic burden, often termed the "landlocked penalty." This manifests in several critical ways:

• Exorbitant Transport Costs: Goods must cross at least one international border, often several, to reach a seaport. This involves customs duties, bureaucratic delays, multiple handling fees, and higher fuel and logistics costs. For a landlocked African country, transport costs can be 50-100% higher than for a coastal counterpart, making its exports uncompetitive and imports more expensive.
• Dependence on Neighbors: A landlocked nation's economic health is intrinsically linked to the

stability and infrastructure of its neighbors. Political instability, conflict, or poor infrastructure in a transit country can paralyze a landlocked nation's economy.

• Limited Trade Volume: The higher costs and logistical complexities naturally lead to lower trade volumes. This restricts access to global markets, limits foreign investment, and hinders economic diversification.

• Vulnerability to Transit Disruptions: Any border closure, political dispute, or infrastructure failure in a transit country can effectively cut off a landlocked nation from the outside world.

Mitigating the Penalty: Regional Cooperation and Infrastructure

Recognizing these challenges, the international community and African regional bodies have developed mechanisms to help landlocked states.

• Transit Agreements: Countries often sign bilateral or multilateral agreements guaranteeing the right of passage for goods. These agreements aim to reduce tariffs, streamline customs procedures, and ensure non-discriminatory treatment.

• Regional Economic Communities (RECs): Organizations like the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) work to harmonize trade policies and develop shared infrastructure.

• Infrastructure Corridors: Major projects, such as the Maputo Corridor (linking South Africa, Swaziland, and Mozambique) or the Nacala Corridor (linking Malawi to the Indian Ocean), are designed to provide landlocked states with efficient transport links.

• The Almaty Programme of Action: This UN-backed initiative specifically addresses the needs of landlocked developing countries, focusing on transit transport cooperation and infrastructure development.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Borders, A Future of Connectivity

The existence of 16 landlocked countries in Africa is a direct consequence of the continent's colonial past. Arbitrary borders drawn by European powers created nations whose economic lifelines are controlled by their neighbors. While the "landlocked penalty" is a real and significant burden, affecting transport costs, trade volumes, and overall economic growth, it is not an insurmountable one. Through regional cooperation, strategic infrastructure development, and robust transit agreements, landlocked African nations are working to overcome their geographic disadvantage. Their future prosperity depends not just on their own efforts, but on the stability and collaboration of the entire region, transforming a legacy of division into a network of shared opportunity.

These efforts, however, must evolve beyond merely compensating for a geographic handicap. The future for landlocked African nations lies in proactively redefining their role within regional and global value chains. By strategically positioning themselves as efficient logistics and distribution hubs—supported by digital trade platforms, streamlined single-border posts, and investments in dry ports—they can transform transit from a vulnerability into a comparative advantage. The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a pivotal opportunity, as its success is intrinsically tied to seamless cross-border connectivity for all members, landlocked and coastal alike.

Ultimately, overcoming the landlocked penalty requires a fundamental shift from viewing transit as a bilateral favor to recognizing it as a regional public good. Sustainable progress will demand not only high-level agreements but also deep integration of customs systems, joint infrastructure maintenance funds, and conflict-resolution mechanisms among neighbors. When a landlocked nation thrives, its transit corridors generate revenue, jobs, and stability for the entire subregion. Thus, the imperative is clear: to turn the historical accident of being landlocked into a catalyst for unprecedented regional economic integration, where the prosperity of one is bound to the prosperity of all.