16/03/2026
in English.
Title of the Document
Convention between France and the Republic of Liberia concerning the boundary between French Guinea and Liberia.
Signed on January 13, 1907.
This means:
France and Liberia made an official agreement (treaty).
The purpose was to fix the border between Liberia and French Guinea.
Article 1 – Interpretation in English
The text explains where the border begins and how it follows natural features.
Simplified translation
The boundary between French Guinea and the Republic of Liberia begins at the point where the territories of:
Sierra Leone
French Guinea
Liberia
meet.
This point is located on the left bank of the Makona River.
From that point:
The boundary follows the left bank of the Makona River for some distance.
After that, it leaves the river.
Then it follows the watershed line (the high ground that separates different river basins).
What This Means Geographically
The agreement used natural features to mark the border, such as:
Rivers
Watershed lines (mountain ridges or high ground)
This was common in colonial boundary agreements because natural landmarks were easier to identify than straight lines.
Key Locations Mentioned
Makona River – today part of the Liberia–Guinea–Sierra Leone border area.
Tripoint – the place where three countries meet (Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone).
This area is still the same general border region today.
Historical Meaning
This treaty was important because:
France controlled French Guinea.
Liberia was an independent African republic.
The agreement officially fixed Liberia’s northern boundary with the French colony.
It was part of the Scramble for Africa period, when European powers were drawing borders across West Africa.
✅ In simple terms:
This 1907 agreement between France and Liberia defined the border between Liberia and Guinea, starting where Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia meet, following the Makona River, and then continuing along watershed lines.
If you want, I can also show you something very interesting:
the exact modern map location of the Makona River border, and
how the 1907 treaty shaped the Liberia–Guinea border we see today.