uti possidetis and the Ethiopia Eritrea boundary dispute

Abstract

Uti possidetis, as can be gathered from a number of boundary disputes, has been one of the major international law principles invoked for controversies among states over land territory. For better or worse, this same principle has been used for Eritrea-Ethiopia boundary dispute--a dispute that had already resulted in a territorial war between these countries. The consequences of its use, which started with a boundary decision with no apparent hope of implementation, will be judged in the future. But at present there are concerns to be addressed as to the wisdom of using the doctrine.