historical reports

Many borders in the former colonial world were established by bureaucrats with little understanding of the situation on the ground. These drawn lines have often been kept by postcolonial states, and unsurprisingly, have often caused considerable troubles in application and demarcation.

The lengthy dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea over Ras Doumeira is an example of a dispute where vague colonial markings have caused problems. The border is a hill, and a 1900 agreement between colonial powers Italy and France was based on the understanding that the northern slope of the hill was Italian, the southern slopes, French. The lack of an exact demarcation has caused the post-colonial nations considerable difficulties for a variety of political reasons; and military clashes in 2008 led to 35 deaths and the isolation of Eritrea by the international community.

Menas Borders produces historical reports for clients, drawing out the twists and turns of historical circumstance which can result in border locations and territorial ownership taking on a significance that can be hard for the unacquainted to understand.

An analysis of the causes of disputes and factors which trigger, or could trigger, their emergence or amplification will also be included. They can be condensed, for maximum impact, or more extensive, lending themselves to a more nuanced understanding of the situation.