Arbitration ruling in dispute between Yemen and Eritrea, 1998

Unanimous findings issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, 9 October, 1998

1. The islands, islet, rocks and low-tide elevations forming the Mohabbakah islands, including but not limited to Sayal Islet, Harbi Islet, Flat Islet and High Islet are subject to the territorial sovereignty of Eritrea;

2. The islands, islet, rocks and low-tide elevations forming the Haycock Islands, including, but not limited to North East Haycock, Middle Haycock and South West Haycock, are subject to the territorial sovereignty of Eritrea;

3. The South West Rocks are subject to the territorial sovereignty of Eritrea;

4. The islands, islet, rocks, and low-tide elevations of the Zuqar-Hanish group, including, but not limited to, Three Foot Rock, Parkin Rock, Rocky Islets, Pin Rock, Suyul Hanish, Mid Islet, Double Peak Island, Round Island, North Round Island, Quoin Island (13 43 N, 42 48 E), Chor Rock, Greater Hanish, Peaky Islet, Mushajirah, Addar Ail Islets, Haycock Island (13 47 N, 42 47 E; not to be confused with the Haycock Islands to the southwest of Greater Hanish), Low Island (13 52 N, 42 49 E) including the unnamed islets and rocks close north, east and south, Lesser Hanish including the unnamed islets and rocks close north east, Tongue Island and the unnamed islet close south, Near Island and the unnamed islet close south east, Shark Island, Jabal Zuquar Island, High Island, and the Abu Ali Islands (including Quoin Island (14 05 N, 42 49 E) and Pile Island) are subject to the territorial sovereignty of Yemen;

5. The island of Jabal al-Tayr and the islands, islets, rocks and low-tide elevations forming the Zubayr group, including, but not limited to, Quoin Island (15 12 N, 42 03 E), Haycock Island (15 10 N, 42 07 E; not to be confused with the Haycock Islands to the southwest of Greater Hanish), Rugged Island, Table Peak Island, Saddle Island and the unnamed islet close north west, Low Island (15 06 N, 42 06 E) and the unnamed rock close east, Middle Reef, Saba Island, Connected Island, East Rocks, Shoe Rock, Jabal Zubayr Island, and Centre Peak Island are subject to the territorial sovereignty of Yemen; and

6. The sovereignty found to lie with Yemen entails the perpetuation of the traditional fishing regime in the region, including free access and the enjoyment for the fishermen of both Eritrea and Yemen.

Further, ... the Tribunal directs that this Award should be executed within 90 days from the date hereunder.

Done at London this 9th day of October, 1998.