One factor that would not be used to explain the classification of many sub-Saharan African countries as fragile states is geographic location. Fragility of a state is typically determined by a range of political, social, and economic factors, rather than its geographic location. Some common factors used to assess the fragility of a state include political instability, weak governance, corruption, economic challenges, poverty, social unrest, ethnic or religious tensions, and inadequate provision of public services. These factors can vary across different regions and countries, and they contribute to the classification of a state as fragile. However, the geographic location itself is not a direct determinant of fragility.