The Forgotten Triangle
Bir Tawil is a 2,060-square-kilometer area along the border between Egypt and Sudan. It is one of the few places on Earth claimed by no country. The odd status arises from conflicting border demarcations in 1899 and 1902, under British rule. Egypt adheres to the 1899 line, placing Bir Tawil outside its borders, while Sudan follows the 1902 administrative boundary, which excludes it as well.
No Sovereignty, No Residents
Unlike most unclaimed territories, Bir Tawil has no permanent population. The land is mostly barren desert, with sparse vegetation and no infrastructure. Its lack of resources makes it undesirable for settlement or governance. Bir Tawil’s unique legal status has drawn attention from adventurers and self-proclaimed micronation founders.
Micronations and Claims
In 2014, Jeremiah Heaton from the United States planted a flag in Bir Tawil, declaring it the “Kingdom of North Sudan” to fulfill a promise to his daughter. Other claims have been made, but none are recognized by any government or international body.
A Rare Anomaly
Bir Tawil remains one of the world’s few terra nullius—land that belongs to no one.
Bir Tawil, a barren patch of desert between Egypt and Sudan, is one of the world’s few unclaimed lands. Its strange status stems from contradictory colonial-era borders: Egypt follows one line, Sudan another. Neither includes Bir Tawil, leaving it abandoned by both nations. pic.twitter.com/4han7xttBx
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) December 10, 2024