When people think of border walls, the Berlin Wall, the Korean demilitarized zone, or the much‑debated US‑Mexico barrier often dominate the conversation. Yet there’s a whole hidden roster of fortifications that quietly slice continents, shape politics, and affect lives. In this roundup we dive into the ten most obscure, yet striking, border walls that rarely make headlines.
Exploring the 10 Border Walls That Define Borders
10. Moroccan Wall
The Moroccan Wall—often called the “Berm”—spans roughly 2,600 kilometres (1,600 miles) across the disputed Western Sahara region. Constructed of sand‑filled berms standing about three metres tall, it is reinforced with electric fences, radar stations, barbed‑wire, a hefty Moroccan military presence, and an estimated seven million land mines, making it the longest known minefield on the planet.
Western Sahara’s status is contested: Morocco administers the majority, while the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, backed by the Polisario Front, claims independence over the remainder. The Polisario controls territory just beyond the berm, and despite the massive fortifications, its fighters routinely tunnel beneath the barrier to launch raids on Moroccan forces.
The civilian population bears the brunt of the conflict, caught on both sides of the wall. Many have fallen victim to the hidden mines, turning the region into a perilous landscape for ordinary families trying to survive amid the geopolitical stalemate.
9. Baghdad Wall
The Baghdad Wall stretches four kilometres (2.5 miles) of concrete, physically separating the predominantly Sunni neighbourhood of Ghazaliya from the Shiite‑controlled districts of the capital. Before its construction, sectarian militias from both sides launched frequent attacks on civilians, Iraqi forces, and foreign troops.
U.S. forces erected the barrier around the Sunni stronghold to curb the violence. While the wall succeeded in lowering homicide rates, it also fostered resentment among Sunnis who feel isolated from the rest of Baghdad, fearing that the structure serves more as a containment tool than a protective one.
Business establishments serving the Sunni community ended up outside the barrier, complicating daily life. Attempts by insurgents to demolish the wall with explosives caused only minor damage, which was swiftly repaired, leaving the division largely intact.
8. Botswana‑Zimbabwe Electric Fence
Spanning roughly 500 kilometres (310 miles) and standing two metres tall, the electric fence erected by Botswana aims to halt the spread of foot‑and‑mouth disease allegedly carried by cattle smuggled from Zimbabwe. The outbreak in 2003 threatened Botswana’s cattle‑rearing economy, prompting the government to act.
Zimbabwe, however, argues the barrier is a political maneuver to keep its struggling citizens from crossing into Botswana during a period of hyperinflation and soaring unemployment. The fence’s purpose remains contested.
Interestingly, Botswana never activated the electrification system nor deployed regular patrols, leaving the fence largely dormant despite its imposing presence.
7. South Africa‑Mozambique Electric Fence
South Africa maintains an electrified barrier along its borders with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The Mozambican section, dubbed the “Snake of Fire” in 1990, delivered a lethal 3,500‑volt shock to anyone who made contact, claiming the lives of countless civilians fleeing the Mozambican Civil War.
Electric fences come in lethal and non‑lethal variants; the former delivers a continuous jolt capable of killing, while the latter emits a brief, high‑voltage pulse that merely incapacitates. South Africa’s lethal version left many survivors with severe burns or amputations.
Human‑rights groups report the fence has caused between 89 and over 200 deaths annually, surpassing the Berlin Wall’s death toll over its 28‑year existence. An entire underground economy emerged, with guides escorting desperate Mozambicans around the fence. Though the fence still stands, it is no longer electrified, and large sections have been cut or fallen into disrepair.
6. Peace Walls (Northern Ireland)
The Peace Walls constitute a network of more than 60 barriers that slice through Belfast, separating unionist and nationalist neighbourhoods. While some consist of modest wooden fences, others are towering concrete structures, all built during the Troubles to keep opposing factions apart.
Prior to their erection, frequent attacks erupted between the two sides. Over time, walls gradually encircled volatile districts, offering a sense of security to residents amidst the turmoil.
Paradoxically, most of these walls were constructed after the Good Friday Agreement. Today, demolition efforts are underway, with a target to remove all barriers by 2023, symbolising a hopeful step toward lasting peace.
5. Project Wall (Ukraine)
Project Wall envisions a 2,000‑kilometre (1,200‑mile) fence and trench system along Ukraine’s frontier with Russia, financed primarily by Kyiv in hopes of deterring further Russian aggression following Crimea’s annexation.
Financial shortfalls, corruption among contractors and border guards, and sub‑standard construction have hampered progress. To date, only 273 kilometres of trench and 83 kilometres of fence have been completed, far short of the original ambition.
Analysts question the wall’s efficacy; an unguarded fence and shallow trenches are unlikely to impede modern armored units. Ukraine has repeatedly pushed back the completion date—from 2018 to 2021—and now seeks additional European assistance, while Russia simultaneously fortifies its own border around Crimea.
4. Great Wall (Saudi‑Iraq)
The Saudi‑Iraq Great Wall stretches roughly 966 kilometres (600 miles) along the Saudi‑Iraqi frontier. Initial feasibility studies began in 2006 after the Iraqi Civil War raised concerns about cross‑border attacks.
Construction kicked off in 2014 as ISIS seized swathes of Iraqi territory adjacent to Saudi Arabia. The wall comprises five parallel fences, watchtowers, surveillance gear, and a force of over 30,000 soldiers. In 2015, while still under construction, ISIS militants assaulted a border post, killing three Saudi guards, including General Oudah al‑Belawi.
Beyond the Iraqi border, Saudi Arabia is also building a massive 1,600‑kilometre (1,000‑mile) barrier along its frontier with Yemen, underscoring the kingdom’s broader strategy of hardening its borders against militant infiltration.
3. Ceuta and Melilla Fences
Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish autonomous cities perched on the North African coast, share land borders with Morocco. Their strategic location makes them a magnet for African migrants attempting to reach Europe via ferry routes.
In response, Spain erected extensive fencing along the Moroccan frontiers of both enclaves. The Melilla barrier, spanning 11 kilometres (7 miles), features three parallel fences equipped with razor‑wire, alarms, and pepper‑gas dispensers (currently deactivated). The European Union contributes substantial funding to support these security measures.
These fortifications aim to stem the flow of migrants into the cities and, by extension, into mainland Europe, reflecting the broader geopolitical tension surrounding migration across the Mediterranean.
2. Egypt‑Gaza Underground Wall
Unlike the other barriers on this list, the Egypt‑Gaza Wall is an underground structure designed to thwart weapon smuggling through clandestine tunnels that connect Egypt to the Gaza Strip, where Hamas controls a network of illicit passages.
While the wall’s primary goal is to block the flow of arms, it also hampers the movement of essential goods, such as food, that Gaza residents rely upon amidst Israel’s stringent blockade. Egypt claims the ten‑kilometre (six‑mile) wall cannot be cut or melted, and it was constructed with U.S. assistance.
Israel is simultaneously developing its own subterranean barrier—both above and below ground—along its 64‑kilometre (40‑mile) border with Gaza, further illustrating the escalating underground security race in the region.
1. India‑Bangladesh Fence
Approximately 70 % of India’s 4,100‑kilometre (2,500‑mile) border with Bangladesh is fortified with a 2.4‑metre‑high (8‑foot) fence topped with barbed wire and, in certain sections, electrified strands. Constructed in the 1980s after communal violence erupted in Assam over illegal Bangladeshi migration, the barrier was intended to curb unauthorized entry.
Nevertheless, the fence has struggled to achieve its purpose. Corrupt border officials routinely accept bribes, allowing migrants and even militants to slip through. Moreover, vast riverine stretches—totaling 1,116 kilometres (693 miles)—remain unfenced, providing easy crossing points.
Human‑rights groups criticize India for its heavy‑handed enforcement: between 2001 and 2010, border forces reportedly killed 900 Bangladeshis, many of whom were ordinary farmers or relatives simply traversing the border for personal reasons.