ICJ Starts Hearings on Gabon-Equatorial Guinea Border Dispute

Improve the News Foundation -

Facts

  • The International Court of Justice (ICJ) began hearing the first round of arguments on the merits in the case concerning Land and Maritime Delimitation and Sovereignty over Islands (Gabon/Equatorial Guinea) on Monday.[1][2]
  • Taking the floor on the first day, the delegation from Equatorial Guinea claimed that Gabon's position regarding three islands in potentially oil-rich waters in Corisco Bay is untenable and inconsistent with a previous agreement.[1][3][4]
  • Hearings will resume on Wednesday, with the delegation from Gabon scheduled to open its first round of oral argument, and will last a week. The UN's top court is set to give a final and binding ruling next year.[3][4][5]
  • This comes as both countries entered a special agreement asking the World Court 'to determine whether the legal titles, treaties and international conventions invoked by the Parties have the force of law' concerning the disputed islands.[4][5][6]
  • The dispute over the virtually uninhabited islands dates back to 1900, when France and Spain signed a treaty establishing the borders between their colonies in Africa, with Gabon setting up a military presence there in 1972.[4][5][7]
  • While both sides recognize the 1900 Franco-Spanish Convention as applicable to the dispute, Gabon argues that a 1974 bilateral treaty — whose validity Equatorial Guinea has long objected — is also binding.[4][5][6][8]

Sources: [1]International Court of Justice (a), [2]UN Web TV, [3]International Court of Justice (b), [4]Reuters, [5]France 24, [6]International Court of Justice (c), [7]New York Times and [8]United Nations Treaty Collection.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Voice of America. Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have sought a peaceful solution to their border disputes for decades, and that long wait is close to an end now that the World Court has kicked off hearing oral arguments. More than anything, these developments have taught other African nations the importance of using political solutions to tackle problems.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Le Monde diplomatique and allAfrica.com. While it's great that Equatorial Guinea and Gabon remain committed to a peaceful solution to their territorial claims, one cannot understate the fact that this case stems from disputes between their long-running autocratic regimes. These two countries are no example to follow, and the international community should be careful not to promote that notion.

Predictions