The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled in favor of Equatorial Guinea in a long-running territorial dispute with Gabon over three oil-rich islands in the Gulf of Guinea. The judgment ends decades of diplomatic deadlock between the two Central African neighbors.
Colonial-Era Treaty Trumps Modern Convention
The 15-judge panel at the UN’s top court determined that a 1900 treaty between Spain and France was the legal authority on the ownership of the islands—Mbanié, Cocotiers, and Conga. The court dismissed the 1974 Bata Convention, which Gabon claimed as justification for its control, stating it “was not a treaty having the force of law” and lacked any preserved original text.
According to the court, the islands legally passed from Spanish colonial rule to Equatorial Guinea upon its independence in 1968. The decision is final and binding under international law.
Strategic and Economic Importance of the Islands
Though small and uninhabited, the islands lie in a strategically valuable maritime zone suspected to hold significant oil and gas reserves. Gabon had maintained a military presence on Mbanié since 1972, following a territorial seizure that prompted decades of tension.
With both countries relying heavily on petroleum revenues, the islands’ ownership has implications for offshore resource exploration and regional maritime boundaries. In 2016, following failed diplomatic talks, both parties agreed to refer the dispute to the ICJ for a legal resolution.
A Win for International Arbitration
Legal observers view the ruling as a clear example of how international courts can peacefully resolve complex sovereignty issues. The ICJ’s emphasis on the legitimacy of colonial-era treaties may also influence other territorial disputes in Africa and beyond.
As the court’s decision obliges Gabon to withdraw any remaining military presence, attention now turns to the practical implementation of the ruling and the future of Equatorial Guinea’s development plans in the contested region.
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