Djibouti and Eritrea have been in conflict since June 2008 when their troops fought along the Djibouti–Eritrea border. The conflict revolves around the location of the border and sovereignty over the strategically located Doumeira Islands and adjacent reefs. In 2010 Qatar brokered a mediation agreement and began to implement it, but withdrew in 2017 without notifying Eritrea and without providing reasons to either country. The dispute raises a number of international law issues. This article focuses on the validity and application of three relevant colonial treaties (from 1900, 1901 and 1935) that defined the boundary, one of which (the 1935 Treaty) did not enter into force. Issues relevant to the determination of the borderline and sovereignty over the disputed islands and the unique challenges that may arise are discussed in light of the colonial treaties, relevant International Court of Justice jurisprudence and other international law principles, particularly uti possidetis juris.

吉布提和厄立特里亚自 2008 年 6 月以来一直处于冲突之中，当时两国军队在吉布提和厄立特里亚边境交战。冲突围绕边界位置和对战略位置杜梅拉群岛及邻近珊瑚礁的主权展开。2010年，卡塔尔促成了一项调解协议并开始执行，但于2017年退出，但没有通知厄立特里亚，也没有向两国提供理由。这场争端引发了许多国际法问题。本文重点讨论界定边界的三项相关殖民条约（1900 年、1901 年和 1935 年）的有效性和适用，其中一项（1935 年条约）并未生效。法律上的占有。