The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled in favour of Equatorial Guinea in its long-standing territorial dispute with Gabon.
The ICJ officially recognises Malabo’s sovereignty over the islands of Mbanié, Cocotiers, and Conga in the Gulf of Guinea.
This decision brings to a close one of Central Africa’s oldest border conflicts, which was brought before the UN court in 2016 after both countries agreed to a peaceful resolution mechanism to avoid escalating tensions.
While the sovereignty of the three islands now legally belongs to Equatorial Guinea, the ICJ emphasised that maritime boundaries between the two nations remain to be determined in a separate process.
In Libreville, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema acknowledged the ruling on Wednesday, reaffirming Gabon’s commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes. In an official statement, he expressed readiness to engage in “constructive discussions” with Equatorial Guinea, in the spirit of good neighbourliness and regional stability.
The ICJ’s verdict marks a major diplomatic milestone in the relations between the two CEMAC member states and sets the stage for future negotiations regarding the unresolved maritime delimitation.
AC/lb/as/APA