The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rendered a decision in favor of Equatorial Guinea concerning a longstanding maritime boundary dispute with Gabon, involving three islands and surrounding waters potentially rich in oil. This ruling, announced on Monday, states that Equatorial Guinea holds sovereignty over the islands as per the 1900 Treaty of Paris, originally between colonial powers France and Spain.
The ruling requires Gabon to withdraw any military personnel from the contested islands. This decision follows the ICJ’s examination of historical treaties, particularly the 1900 Treaty of Paris, which was upheld as the basis for sovereignty due to sufficient and uncontested control by Spain over the islands prior to Equatorial Guinea’s independence. Under the principle of uti possidetis, Equatorial Guinea inherited this legal title. Further agreements after 1900, such as the 1974 Bata Convention, were not enforced to a degree necessary to override the original treaty, as per the ICJ’s examination.
The islands in dispute include Mbanié/Mbañe, Cocotiers/Cocoteros, and Conga. Although geographically small, the islands are surrounded by waters with the potential for oil reserves, heightening the stakes of the dispute. In 2016, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea agreed to seek a resolution from the ICJ, formally submitting the case in 2021. While the decision solidifies Equatorial Guinea’s territorial claims, the court made it clear that both states can still engage in discussions to possibly create a new boundary treaty in the future.
For more details, visit the original article on Jurist.