An international boundaries expert says the recent ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague gives both Ethiopia and Eritrea some of what they asked for, but that neither government can claim outright victory.
Martin Pratt of the Mountjoy Research Center in Durham, England, says the commission’s document does contain ambiguities regarding sovereignty over some disputed border areas. But he says such ambiguities will likely be clarified during the next phase of the arbitration process, known as demarcation.
Mr. Pratt says a big problem for those involved in the demarcation process will be the uncertainties over the areas where landmines are left over from the recent conflict. He says the mines need to be cleared before the demarcaters can begin their task on the ground. Mr. Pratt spoke from Durham with English to Africa reporter Ashenafi Abedje (Click the above links to listen to the interview)