Richard Schofield's Arabian Boundaries

archival research

In settling border disputes, whether through the International Court of Justice (ICJ), arbitration or any other means, historical evidence can play a hugely important role. Colonial era maps, surveys, demarcations, treaties and agreements can be instrumental in determining ownership.

For example, in the Cameroon v Nigeria ICJ case, the decision to award the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon rested largely on late 19th century Anglo-German correspondence that placed the peninsula in Cameroon, despite the fact that Nigeria subsequently administered the area for decades during the 20th century.

Much of this evidence now lies in the public archives, but the volume of information contained in these archives is staggering. Menas Borders understands the art of archival research, and can unearth - and interpret - those documents that are most relevant.

Archival research is crucial to success in ICJ cases and arbitration proceedings, but it is also important for governments and resource companies working in border regions to understand the origin of a boundary in order to evaluate the possibility of a dispute.

Our London location gives us immediate access to the British national archives, home to some of the most important colonial-era documents. We also have experience working in the French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Italian and Ottoman archives, among others.