The Hanish Islands Dispute

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	The Hanish Islands Dispute
Author:	Dzurek, Daniel J.
Year:	1996
Periodical:	Eritrean Studies Review (ISSN 1086-9174)
Volume:	1
Issue:	2
Period:	Fall
Pages:	133-152
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs., maps
Geographic terms:	Eritrea Yemen Northeast Africa
Subjects:	international politics territorial claims international relations Politics and Government History and Exploration war history Hanish Islands (Yemen)
Abstract:	In November and December 1995 forces of Eritrea and Yemen clashed over an island group in the southern Red Sea. Eritrean forces took control of Hanish al Kabir, while Yemeni troops occupied Jabal Zuqar. The dispute dates back to the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and colonial actions by Italy and the United Kingdom. Following mediation efforts by several countries, France succeeded in crafting an accord on principles of arbitration, which Eritrea and Yemen signed on 21 May 1996. In the present commentary, the author outlines the geography of the disputed territory of the Hanish Archipelago, and reviews the genesis of the competing Eritrean and Yemeni claims, the relevant international agreements, recent developments in the dispute (1995-1996), and the Israeli dimension. An agreement governing the details of the arbitration process was signed in Paris on 3 October 1996. Notes, ref.