African states merit reassessed to some extent (7)

I believe the answer is:

eritrea

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'african' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.

'states merit reassessed to some extent' is the wordplay.
'to some extent' indicates a hidden word.
'ERITREA' can be found hidden inside 'states merit reassessed'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eritrea that I've seen before include "Country bordering the Red Sea" , "Eire art (anag)" , "State of northeast Africa" , "Province of Ethiopia on the Red Sea" , "part of Africa" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Mail.

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