Reuters map policy
A boundary or territorial dispute arises when two or more political entities claim the same land. These conflicts often stem from a combination of factors, including historical claims, differing religious or ethnic views or the presence of valuable natural resources. Reuters’ map policy provides guidelines, based on our best judgment, for depicting geographical boundaries on our maps.
Reuters uses internationally recognized sources, such as the United Nations, major international mapping organizations and government authorities to determine boundaries.
The stances below reflect decisions made in consultation with Reuters bureaus and editors.
How we show disputed borders
Reuters Graphics follows these general principles:
- Dashed lines are used where a boundary is contested.
- Solid lines are used where a boundary is internationally recognized.
- Polygon fill reflects which nation or state Reuters considers the territory formally belongs to — this may differ from de facto control.
Disputed list
A significant number of boundary disputes exist globally.
This list highlights the most significant disputed boundaries that regularly pose challenges for us. It only includes disputes for land boundaries, not maritime boundaries.
Please talk to your editor if there are other disputed boundaries not included in this list that need to be addressed in your maps. Open an issue in https://github.com/reuters-graphics/country-borders if you want to propose adding a disputed border that is not included.
Disputes by region
Africa
Abyei
| Disputed by | Sudan, South Sudan |
| Status | Administered by Sudan, claimed by South Sudan |
| History | The 2005 peace accord that led to South Sudan’s independence left unresolved the question of the Abyei region’s extent and sovereignty. A tribunal in 2009 determined Abyei’s extent, but a determination of sovereignty remains subject to further negotiations. The ongoing conflict between rival militaries in Sudan has stalled progress towards the determination of the final status of the disputed Abyei region. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show Abyei with a dashed boundary and its own polygon fill. The disputed region is separate from Sudan and South Sudan, reflecting the unresolved and active nature of the dispute. |
Recognized
Disputed
Hala’ib, Bir Tawil, and Wadi Halfa
| Disputed by | Egypt, Sudan |
| Status | Egypt maintains de facto control of Hala’ib and Wadi Halfa, claimed by Sudan. Bir Tawil is claimed by neither. |
| History | The boundary dispute between Egypt and Sudan results from claims along differing colonial administration lines. Egypt claims and has de facto control of all territory north of the 22° parallel, as established in a January 1899 Agreement. Sudan’s claim stems from a November 1902 Arrêté that provided for a boundary adjustment to allow colonial authorities to more effectively manage the movement of nomadic tribes. Bir Tawil lies between their opposed claim lines and is claimed by neither. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show Hala’ib and Bir Tawil as dashed lines. The areas of Hala’ib and Wadi Halfa are part of Sudan’s polygon, while Bir Tawil falls within Egypt’s. Wadi Halfa is not shown as disputed. |
Recognized
Disputed
Ilemi Triangle
| Disputed by | Kenya, South Sudan |
| Status | Administered by Kenya, claimed by South Sudan |
| History | The initial, vague international boundary defined between Uganda and Sudan in 1914 still characterises South Sudan’s claim to the Ilemi Triangle. Kenya maintains de facto control of the entire area up to the 1950 Sudanese Patrol Line. Two other commonly mapped lines — the 1938 Red Line and 1947 Blue Line — were established under British oversight to better demarcate the grazing grounds of the Kenyan Turkana pastoralist peoples. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to use Kenya’s Red Line to define Kenya’s polygon fill. Both the Red Line and South Sudan’s claim line are shown as dashed lines to mark them as disputed. |
Recognized
Disputed
Kafia Kingi
| Disputed by | Sudan, South Sudan |
| Status | Marginally administered by both Sudan and South Sudan |
| History | The demarcation of the Sudan-South Sudan boundary, along with its westernmost limit and the adjoining Kafia Kingi enclave, remain subject to further negotiations. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show the contested area of Kafia Kingi as disputed, but the area falls within Sudan’s polygon. |
Recognized
Disputed
Somalia / Ethiopia border
| Disputed by | Somalia, Ethiopia |
| Status | Administered by Ethiopia, claimed by Somalia |
| History | From the late 19th century to Somalia’s independence in 1960, the Somali people in eastern Africa lived under British, Italian, French and Ethiopian rule. The United Kingdom gained control of Ethiopia’s Ogaden region during World War II. The territory was returned to Ethiopia after the war but has not been delimited beyond a provisional line. Ogaden, or the Somali Regional State, is populated by ethnic Somalis and has been the primary source of deep tensions between the two states from 1960 to today. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show the boundary between Somalia and Ethiopia as a dashed line, reflecting its undetermined status. |
Recognized
Disputed
Western Sahara
| Disputed by | Morocco, Western Sahara |
| Status | Administered by Morocco, claimed by Western Sahara |
| History | Western Sahara has been administered by Morocco since 1979. Fighting between Morocco and the Polisario independence movement ended with a UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991, but no agreement on the area’s status has been reached. Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories since 1963. In 2020, the US announced recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show the boundary between Western Sahara and Morocco as disputed with a dashed line. Western Sahara exists as its own separate polygon. |
Recognized
Disputed
Asia
Arunachal Pradesh
| Disputed by | China, India |
| Status | Administered by India, claimed by China |
| History | The British established control over the region in the early 20th century, defining the McMahon Line as the boundary with Tibet in 1914, which China later disputed. Known as the North-East Frontier Tracts when India became independent in 1947, the area was renamed Arunachal Pradesh when it became a union territory in 1972 and a state in 1987. China continues to claim it as part of South Tibet, leading to ongoing border tensions. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show a disputed border for both China’s claimed boundary and India’s de facto border with China. Arunachal Pradesh falls within India’s polygon fill. |
Recognized
Disputed
Bhutan
| Disputed by | China, Bhutan |
| Status | China and Bhutan both administer and claim sections along the border |
| History | Bhutan and China have asserted numerous opposing territorial claims over several decades, though current claims are somewhat unclear due to conflicting reports. The Bhutanese government contends there are four contested areas, while China argues there are six. Unlike most international boundaries, no historic treaties or delimitation agreements define the alignment of the boundary. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to not show any disputed areas in Bhutan, as they have not been formally demarcated. |
Recognized
Disputed
Kashmir, Jammu, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Aksai Chin
| Disputed by | India, Pakistan, China |
| Status | India, Pakistan and China all administer and claim parts |
| History | India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir — a disputed region of some 18 million people. India administers the area to the east and south of the Line of Control; Pakistan controls western and northwestern Kashmir. China controls parts of eastern Kashmir taken from India in a 1962 war. The Siachen area is particularly contested: a U.S. State Department official redrafted the map in 1968 showing the area as controlled by Pakistan, a version India rejects. India has occupied the Siachen Glacier since 1984. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show all claimed boundaries as dashed lines. The Line of Control is dashed up to the Siachen area, which is included in India’s polygon fill, reflecting India’s de facto control of the glacier since 1984. |
Recognized
Disputed
Korean Demilitarized Zone
| Disputed by | North Korea, South Korea |
| Status | The two countries are divided by the Korean Demilitarized Zone following the 1953 armistice. |
| History | North and South Korea are divided by a heavily fortified border known as the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which was established after the Korean War (1950-1953) ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show a solid line between North Korea and South Korea. The border follows the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) — a specific, agreed line — rather than the wider surrounding demilitarized zone. |
Recognized
Disputed
Kuril Islands
| Disputed by | Russia, Japan |
| Status | Administered by Russia, claimed by Japan |
| History | This concerns four islands: Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai group. The former Soviet Union occupied the islands at the end of World War II, and since then Tokyo has argued for their return to Japanese sovereignty. Japan maintains that the islands are historically Japanese and that Russian influence never extended this far south prior to 1945. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show these four islands as part of Russia. |
Recognized
Disputed
Paracel Islands
| Disputed by | China, Vietnam, Taiwan |
| Status | Administered by China, claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan |
| History | China took control of the islands following the 1974 Battle of the Paracel Islands from Vietnam. The battle resulted in over 100 casualties. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show these islands as a disputed area, not attached to any country. |
Recognized
Disputed
Senkaku/Diaoyu/Diaoyutai Islands
| Disputed by | Japan, China, Taiwan |
| Status | Administered by Japan, claimed by China and Taiwan |
| History | These islands are uninhabited. Japan controlled the islands from 1895 until the end of World War II in 1945, after which the United States controlled the islands. In 1972, the United States transferred the islands back to Japan. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show these islands as a disputed area, not attached to any country. |
Recognized
Disputed
Taiwan
| Disputed by | China, Taiwan |
| Status | Administered by Taiwan, claimed by China |
| History | China claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite Taiwan having its own government, military and independent administration since 1949. The division originated after the Chinese Civil War, when the Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan after being defeated by Communist forces who founded the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show Taiwan as its own polygon, separate from China, and labelled as Taiwan. No Reuters map should show or imply that Taiwan is part of China. |
Recognized
Disputed
Europe
Abkhazia
| Disputed by | Georgia |
| Status | Administered by Abkhazia, claimed by Georgia |
| History | Separatists defeated Georgian troops to gain control of this region in 1993. After years of negotiations and several military clashes, it remains under the control of Abkhazians. Only a handful of U.N. member states currently recognize this autonomous region as the independent Republic of Abkhazia. This border is impassable to regular traffic and militarized, existing in a meaningful way. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show a dashed line to indicate that Abkhazia’s status is disputed. The territory falls within Georgia’s polygon fill. |
Recognized
Disputed
Crimea
| Disputed by | Russia, Ukraine |
| Status | Administered by Russia, claimed by Ukraine |
| History | Russia invaded Crimea in 2014. After a referendum-approved secession, that Ukraine disputed and boycotted, the Russian parliament voted to annex Crimea. The United Nations General Assembly subsequently adopted a non-binding resolution declaring the annexation invalid and affirming Ukraine’s territorial jurisdiction. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to not show a disputed border between Ukraine and Crimea. Crimea is treated as part of Ukraine’s polygon fill, consistent with the U.N. General Assembly resolution rejecting the annexation. No Reuters map should show or imply that Crimea is part of Russia. |
Recognized
Disputed
Kosovo
| Disputed by | Serbia, Kosovo |
| Status | Administered by Kosovo, claimed by Serbia |
| History | In 2008 Kosovo declared its independence. Serbia still claims it as a province and the United Nations shows it as a disputed region within Serbia, yet over 100 countries — including the United States and most EU nations — recognize Kosovo as an independent state. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to use a dashed line to show Kosovo as a disputed territory within Serbia’s borders. |
Recognized
Disputed
South Ossetia
| Disputed by | Georgia |
| Status | Administered by South Ossetia, claimed by Georgia |
| History | Fighting between Ossetian separatists and Georgian forces broke out in 1991. A 1992 ceasefire ended the fighting until 2004. In a 2008 war, Russian forces pushed Georgian forces out of South Ossetia, leading Ossetians to declare their independence from Georgia. Five U.N. member states currently recognize South Ossetia as a political entity. This border is impassable to regular traffic and militarized, existing in a meaningful way. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show a dashed line to indicate that South Ossetia’s status is disputed. The territory falls within Georgia’s polygon fill. |
Recognized
Disputed
Latin America
Essequibo
| Disputed by | Venezuela, Guyana |
| Status | Administered by Guyana, claimed by Venezuela |
| History | While the boundary dispute has its roots in the colonial era, the frontier was considered operative and well established for much of its existence. In 1990, the United Nations began mediation efforts. Large oil reserves were discovered offshore the Essequibo Region in 2015, escalating the dispute. In 2018, resolution efforts were moved to the International Court of Justice. Despite objections from Venezuela, the Court is currently reviewing the case. |
| Reuters stance | A dashed line is used for the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela. Essequibo falls within Guyana’s polygon. |
Recognized
Disputed
Maroni and Litani River Area
| Disputed by | Suriname, French Guiana |
| Status | Administered by French Guiana, claimed by Suriname |
| History | A dispute based on colonial disagreements over which tributary of the Lawa River the boundary follows to the tripoint with Brazil. Suriname contends the boundary follows the Marowini River to the east, while France asserts it follows the Litani River and Coulé-Coulé Creek to the west. |
| Reuters stance | No disputed boundary is shown. A solid boundary line is used between Suriname and French Guiana. |
Recognized
Disputed
Tigri Area / New River Triangle
| Disputed by | Guyana, Suriname |
| Status | Administered by Guyana, claimed by Suriname |
| History | Competing claims to sovereignty stem from the question of which tributary is the source of the Courantyne River. Both countries base their claims on differing interpretations of colonial-era maps and agreements. Guyana and Suriname are both full member states of the United Nations. |
| Reuters stance | No disputed boundary is shown for the Tigri Area / New River Triangle. A solid boundary line is used between Suriname and Guyana. |
Recognized
Disputed
Middle East
Cyprus
| Disputed by | Cyprus |
| Status | The north is administered by Turkish Cypriots. The south is administered by Greek Cypriots. A U.N. buffer zone separates them. |
| History | Administration of the island is divided between the Republic of Cyprus — the de jure government for the entire island — and the de facto separatist Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. A UN-controlled buffer zone follows the ceasefire line from 1974. In 1983, Northern Cyprus declared itself an independent state, recognized only by Turkey. Cyprus also hosts two UK Sovereign Base Areas — Akrotiri and Dhekelia — retained by the UK following independence in 1960. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show Cyprus as a single country polygon. Where scale permits, a dashed line is used to indicate the U.N. buffer zone dividing the island to indicate its disputed status. |
Recognized
Disputed
Gaza Strip
| Disputed by | Israel, Palestinian Authority |
| Status | Administered by Hamas / Palestinian Authority |
| History | The 1949 Armistice border — the Green Line — was established during the 1949 Armistice Agreements as a demarcation line rather than an international boundary. In November 2012, the U.N. General Assembly voted to elevate the diplomatic status of the Palestinian territories to that of a non-member observer state. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to use a dashed line to show the Gaza Strip’s boundary, reflecting the 1949 Armistice demarcation line. The Gaza Strip has its own polygon fill, separate from Israel. |
Recognized
Disputed
Golan Heights
| Disputed by | Israel, Syria |
| Status | Administered by Israel (annexed 1981), claimed by Syria. U.N. has not recognized annexation. |
| History | During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured this territory from Syria, which it subsequently annexed in 1981. The United Nations and most countries have not recognized this annexation, and the Golan Heights remains in dispute. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to use dashed lines for Syria’s claim line, Israel’s de facto border, and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) Line B. The Golan Heights is shown as its own polygon, separate from both Israel and Syria. |
Recognized
Disputed
West Bank
| Disputed by | Palestinian Authority, Israel |
| Status | Administered by the Palestinian National Authority and Israel (Areas A, B, and C) |
| History | In November 2012, the U.N. General Assembly voted to elevate the diplomatic status of the Palestinian territories to that of a non-member observer state. Despite widespread international support, the West Bank lacks full sovereignty, hampering the creation of a formal Palestinian state. In 1980, Israel passed the “Jerusalem Law,” formalizing the annexation of East Jerusalem and declaring the whole of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital — a move the U.N. declared a violation of international law. |
| Reuters stance | Reuters style is to show a disputed border between the West Bank and Israel. East Jerusalem is included within the West Bank polygon. The strip of “no man’s land” left undetermined by the 1949 Armistice is not assigned to either the West Bank or Israel, but is shown with a disputed border. |
Recognized
Disputed