Good Neighborliness… Principle and Policy

The well-known Arabic proverb, “The value of a house depends on the quality of the neighbor,” reflects the Arab tradition, since pre-Islamic times, of respecting neighbors, avoiding harm, upholding noble conduct, and offering help when needed. With the advent of Islam, the status of neighbors was further elevated and honored, becoming an emphasized duty upheld by all divine religions.

A quick look at human history shows that the principle of good neighborliness was present in ancient civilizations. In Mesopotamian culture, harming neighboring states was forbidden unless they initiated aggression. Respect for neighbors was documented in ancient Egyptian civilization as well, with rules inscribed on temple walls prohibiting attacks on peaceful cities. The Code of Hammurabi also enshrined regulations to maintain peaceful relations with surrounding kingdoms, ensuring the stability of populations.

Initially, good neighborliness served as an informal code promoting tolerance and cordial relationships among neighboring kingdoms, cities, and peoples, a respected tradition that persisted over time. However, it was not formally defined by early international legal scholars.

With the modern state’s emergence in the mid-17th century, the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) was signed, marking the end of the Thirty Years’ War in Europe and establishing key principles, most notably religious freedom—a first in European history. This treaty also formalized the principle of good neighborliness among German states and introduced the principle of sovereignty, granting each state the right to make decisions independently, free from external interference, and recognizing each state’s sovereignty over its territory.

This treaty is significant as it laid the foundations for modern international relations and was the first known diplomatic treaty in the modern era.

Some international law scholars view the principle of good neighborliness as a legal concept with political and social roots linked to the state’s emergence. Its application has evolved through significant historical turning points, later influenced by advances in communication, information exchange, and interconnected interests stemming from global development.

This principle aims to regulate relations between countries, defining their mutual duties and rights. In international law, it serves to prevent confrontations that could lead to war.

Good neighborliness became official U.S. policy when President Franklin Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States (1933–1945), introduced it as foreign policy in a 1933 speech. Roosevelt pledged to limit U.S. military intervention in Latin America to foster friendly relations with Central American countries. He declared, “I will dedicate this nation to the policy of good neighborliness in global politics.” This policy led to the withdrawal of U.S. Marines from Haiti in 1934, the repeal of the Platt Amendment with Cuba, compensation to Mexico for nationalized foreign-owned oil resources, and payments to Panama for the use of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt’s policy aimed to create new economic opportunities, particularly in Latin America, by promoting mutually beneficial agreements to strengthen the U.S. economy and establish American influence in the region.

Following this, the 1945 United Nations Charter explicitly referenced good neighborliness, prohibiting all forms of aggression between countries. It encouraged bilateral agreements to develop and protect borders, facilitate trade, and ease travel for citizens, while monitoring borders to prevent crimes like drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, illegal immigration, terrorism, environmental pollution, and natural disaster response. Some treaties also established frameworks for mutual defense.

The principle was later enshrined in a 1969 European convention on freshwater protection, which stated that a state must not exploit natural resources in ways that would harm neighboring states. Similarly, the concept of good neighborliness was incorporated into agreements on transboundary rivers, protecting the rights of riparian states.

In Africa, the principle of good neighborliness is a key aspect of the African Union’s strategy to promote peace, security, and stability. It supports the use of borders as points of connection that foster cooperation, benefit-sharing, and economic integration among states, with a commitment to combat smuggling, terrorism, illegal immigration, piracy, and the exploitation of natural resources.

Historically, Sudan has served as a gateway to Africa from the east, connecting North and Central Africa with the Red Sea. Trade routes traversed its borders, linking it to the holy lands, and its borders remained active for commerce, influenced by tribal migration, particularly among pastoral communities. Traditional customs governed interactions, ensuring peaceful neighborly relations.

With Sudan’s formation as a modern state, the country has upheld a policy of good neighborliness, refraining from interference in the domestic affairs of other nations, while prioritizing cooperation for peace and development.

Impact of the War on Sudan’s Neighboring Countries

Sudan shares various areas of interest with its neighboring states due to geographical proximity and common trade and security concerns. The ongoing conflict in Sudan may have several adverse effects on neighboring countries:

1. Security:

Sudan’s stability is vital to regional anti-terrorism efforts, as armed conflict could create conditions favorable for terrorist activities that could spread to neighboring countries. Additionally, illegal migration, particularly to Europe, could intensify with Sudan serving as a transit state for traffickers.

2. Water Resources:

Sudan shares the Nile River with neighboring countries, a critical source for agriculture, fisheries, hydroelectric dams, and other water-related projects. Prolonged conflict could jeopardize sustainable development initiatives in Sudan and beyond, hampering negotiations around issues like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

3. Border Demarcation:

Unresolved border disputes between Sudan and neighboring countries remain stalled amid the ongoing conflict.

4. Economic Stability:

As an economic partner to neighboring states, disrupted trade routes or border closures due to war could hurt regional economies. For example, oil pipelines from South Sudan to the Red Sea and Sudan’s exports to Ethiopia, Egypt, Eritrea, Chad, and Central Africa would be affected.

5. Political Conditions:

Political instability in Sudan may impact neighboring countries that are already facing internal challenges, potentially sparking new conflicts in East Africa.

6. Humanitarian Aid:

Sudan serves as a corridor for humanitarian assistance to South Sudan, with Port Sudan facilitating aid delivery. However, escalating conflict might worsen the humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

7. Refugees:

Sudan shares significant social and tribal ties with neighboring countries, and escalating conflict may lead to refugee flows that strain host countries’ resources and infrastructure.

For these reasons, it is in neighboring countries’ interest to support the cessation of hostilities in Sudan. These nations play a strategic role by denying the rebels support through their territories and positively upholding good neighborly relations with Sudan. While borders may formally separate Sudan from its neighbors, shared history, kinship, and common interests transcend boundaries, driving efforts to protect Sudan’s sovereignty and ensure stability for the region as a whole.