WHY BUILD FENCE/WALL?

Ceuta Fence

Last night I watched a documentary on Aljazeera tiled wall of shame. This particular episode focused on the tiny border town of Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city located on the north coast of Africa with an estimated mixed population of about 89,000 people.  The tiny little city which lies along the boundary of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean is a good model for the answer to the question, why build a wall? The next paragraph aptly captures Aljazeera’s point of view with regards to the documentary (wall of shame)

“It matters little what they are called - walls, barriers or fences - the intention is the same: to redefine human relations into "us" and "them".

The Walls of Shame series is about division, and about the barriers that men erect, in calculation or desperation, to separate themselves from others, or others from them. When diplomacy and conciliation fail, this is the alternative, and not since medieval times have walls been so in demand around the world.

Tens of new walls, barriers and fences are currently being built, while old ones are being renovated. And there are many types: barriers between countries, walls around cities and fences that zigzag through neighborhoods”

Some may argue against the “us” and “them” theory of why wall/fences are built as expressed by the Arab cable television. Why others will agree that these walls/fences are actually built to create a division by not allowing certain people get in. whichever view or school of thought one may hold in this issue, one thing is certain and cannot be contested at least by any rational mind and that is the issue of security.

Ceuta is known to be a gateway city for migrants from Africa who are heading towards Europe. On the mentioned episode of wall of shame as presented by Aljazeera, some migrants were shown trying to scale or double cross the Gibraltar strait fence which is built along the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The fence which is one of the most sophisticated boarder fences with security cameras has a petrol security team and hence makes it very difficult for illegal migrants to successful cross into Spain and most times when they do cross they Spanish authority send them back to either morocco or their respective countries of origin.

Some like the documentary tries to portray may say this is wrong given the fact that these illegal migrants are running away from their countries for genuine reasons and therefore should be allowed entry into Europe. But again some may also argue against the former school of thoughts by arguing that such free entrance which will be made possible without a wall will open Spain and indeed Europe to potential security threats given the fact that these migrants, most of whom are coming from North Africa are citizens of countries with high rate of involvement in terrorist activities amongst others.

This school of thoughts may want to draw strength from unfenced or wall-less boarders like the Nigeria-Cameron and the US-Mexico boarders. 

This West African fenceless boarder between Nigeria and Cameron is the location of one of the world’s most popular forest Sambisa forest. This hitherto unknown forest, at least to so many people around the world was made popular after the daredevil Islamic terrorist group “Boko Haram” kidnapped about 200 plus secondary school girls from their school in North eastern town of Nigeria called Chibok in 2013/2014

This heinous crime against innocent minors sent shivers around the world which prompted widespread support for the #BringbackOurGirls campaign and group. The boarder forest of Sambisa was the destination and location where they girls were taken according to security reports from both the joint military Nigeria/Cameron force and the US security departments.  

The girls are yet to be found in spite of the heavy military operations by both countries aided by some international forces, while the Boko Haram terrorist group still carry out multiple suicide bomb activities in Nigeria and sometimes in Cameron, with the US ranking them the deadliest terrorists group in the world above the likes of ISIS and ALQUEDA as they have killed more people than those two mentioned.

Would a fence or wall around the corridors of Sambisa forest have helped prevented or helped the Nigeria/Cameron military checkmate the destructive activities of the Boko Haram groups? Proponents of boarder fences/walls would readily say “yes”

The same proponents of walls will argue the same to the proposed US-Mexico border given the enormous illicit activities like drug peddling and human trafficking that is common within the border line.

The notion that walls/fences are built to create a division between “us” and “them” may be over exaggerated and biased, a tool designed to draw sentiments and support for groups or interests who are anti-government or political ideologies.

The above submission according to some analysts may not be far from the truth especially when considering the fact that closed fences/walls does not mean no- entry, rather means entry needs to be vetted or checked for the safety and security of those who call the city or country home.

While circumstances like war, persecution and economic down turns can encourage migration towards a particular or more geographical direction, countries are constantly working with world bodies to ensure that many people are allowed free legal entry into these countries as refuges and given the opportunity to become full citizens regardless of their religion or social background. 

Whilst this is done, governments still owe it to their citizens to protect and secure their society against perceived threats enshrined in some of these people movement and the preservation of their culture.

Preservation of culture is one aspect of the argument that even the proponents of free people movement would agree with proponents of walls/fences is important even in the face of globalization.

Like a mayor of a border town in Czech said “Europe should still belong to Europeans, Asia to Asians, and Africa to Africans etc.”

This does not mean exclusion of non-citizens by policy or fence, but a systematic integration of those considered qualified and in need of a place to call home or who genuinely seek refuge owing to circumstances beyound their control.

In closing, global and regional bodies like the UN, Arab league, OAU etc should be proactive in dealing with issues that encourages migration like wars and poverty. A stich in time they say saves nine. If Syrian war was stopped just like ECOWAS stopped an imminent war in Gambia, most Syrians would still have a country to call home. If African leaders were made to be more accountable and not loot their country treasuries, most of those who died risking their lives would’ve still been alive. A city or country should have a wall, for a wall not only demarcates but protects those inside the city or country against threats to lives and culture, especially in today’s world where terrorism is growing at an alarming rate.