In a significant ruling, the International Court of Justice has granted Equatorial Guinea control over three disputed islands, reaffirming treaties from the colonial era and dismissing Gabon’s claims of ownership.
ICJ Rules in Favor of Equatorial Guinea in Disputed Island Case with Gabon
ICJ Rules in Favor of Equatorial Guinea in Disputed Island Case with Gabon
The International Court of Justice affirms Equatorial Guinea's sovereignty over three islands, ending a decades-long territorial dispute with Gabon.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a ruling favoring Equatorial Guinea in its long-standing territorial dispute with Gabon concerning three islands believed to be situated in oil-rich waters. The dispute centers around the islands of Conga, Mbanié, and Cocoteros that have been contested since the early 1970s.
The ICJ determined that Equatorial Guinea's claims were justified under a 1900 treaty that delineated the colonial territories of France and Spain. It rejected Gabon's assertions based on a more recent agreement from the 1974 Bata convention, which it argued transferred the islands' sovereignty to itself.
This ruling is final and binding, indicating that Gabon is required to withdraw its military forces from Mbanié, the largest of the contested islands. In 1972, Gabonese troops had ousted Equatorial Guinean forces from the islands and established a military stronghold there.
The resurgence of tensions came in the 2000s due to the discovery of potential oil reserves in the Gulf of Guinea. Ultimately, in 2016, after multiple attempts at mediation, both nations decided to allow the ICJ to arbitrate the matter.
This landmark decision not only clarifies territorial sovereignty but also highlights the often-overlooked historical treaties that shaped modern national borders in Africa. The ruling marks a significant moment in the relationship between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon as both nations navigate the complexities of natural resource management in their maritime zones.
