Although it is bigger than New York City, Bir Tawil has remained unclaimed by any country or individual for decades.
The mysterious land in Africa, located on the border between Egypt and Sudan, remains unowned, governed by no laws, and has no permanent residents.
Actually, Bir Tawil is one of the last unclaimed lands in the world that no country wants. Why is this so?
Times Digital Kenya takes a look at possible reasons why the land has remained unclaimed for over 60 years, with both Egypt and Sudan unwilling to own it.
Location and Geography
Covering an area of 2,060 square kilometers, Bir Tawil lies on the border between Sudan and Egypt. The land is mainly rocky, with a few hills and vast stretches of sand, and has no farmland or water resources.
One might compare it to another planet apart from Earth, as Bir Tawil also has no roads and no permanent population.
As such, the bordering countries would not economically benefit from this region’s natural conditions.
Why No Country Owns Bir Tawil
Bir Tawil remains unclaimed by either Sudan or Egypt, sparked by border disputes between the two countries that date back centuries.
Both Egypt and Sudan prefer the Hala’ib Triangle, a more valuable piece of land to the east.
In simple terms, the British colonial administration originally drew a border that placed the Hala’ib Triangle in Egypt and Bir Tawil in Sudan. In 1902, the border lines were adjusted, placing Hala’ib in Sudan and Bir Tawil in Egypt.
Since then, Egypt recognizes the 1899 border while Sudan recognizes the 1902 border, a situation that favors both countries’ claims to the Hala’ib Triangle.
As a result, if either country were to claim Bir Tawil, which is seen as less valuable, it would risk losing the Hala’ib Triangle, which borders the Red Sea and is far more strategically and economically important.
Additionally, Bir Tawil is a desolate stretch of land with no significant resources, permanent settlements, or water, and thus neither of these two countries owns it.
Also, its scorching temperatures and arid environment make it one of the least hospitable places on Earth, hence it has remained unclaimed to date.
