Disputed Areas

A

Kenya/Sudan Border

Sudan and Kenya dispute the ownership of an area along their common border known as the Ilemi Triangle. This area is administered by Kenya but claimed by Sudan.

B

Libya/Algeria Border

Libya claims a small part of southeastern Algeria.

C

Mayotte

The Indian Ocean island of Mayotte is administered by France, although Comoros, the neighboring island nation, claims sovereignty over it. In 1974 the four islands of the Comoros archipelago voted on whether or not to become independent from France, and only Mayotte voted to remain a French dependency. Comoros bases its claim on the belief that the 1974 referendum was an archipelago-wide vote, while Mayotte views it as an island-by-island decision.

D

Ogadēn

Somalia claims sovereignty over Ogadēn, an ethnically Somali region of far eastern Ethiopia. In 1977 Somalia invaded Ogadēn in an attempt to annex it, but Somali forces were defeated by the Ethiopian army in 1978. Ethiopia and Somalia signed a peace accord in 1988 but Somalia did not renounce its claim to the region.

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E

Western Sahara

Western Sahara is occupied by Morocco, although many Western Saharans are seeking independence for the region. A rebel group called the Polisario Front fought Moroccan forces for 15 years until agreeing to a United Nations-administered cease-fire in 1991. Since that time the United Nations has been working with the two sides to hold a referendum on self-determination, but a dispute over who should be allowed to vote has caused it to be delayed repeatedly.

V

South America

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