In a landmark decision, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has ruled in favor of Equatorial Guinea, granting it sovereignty over the disputed islands of Mbanie, Cocotiers, and Conga—effectively ending a decades-long territorial dispute with Gabon.
The islands, located off the Corisco Peninsula in Central Africa, are of strategic importance due to their proximity to potential oil reserves. The ICJ ruling is expected to carry major political and economic implications for the region.
The court based its decision on the absence of an original, authenticated copy of the 1974 Bata Agreement, which Gabon cited to support its claim over the islands. In contrast, Equatorial Guinea relied on a 1900 colonial-era treaty between France and Spain, as well as the geographical proximity of the islands to its mainland. After nearly nine years of legal proceedings, the ICJ issued its final and binding verdict.
This ruling opens the door for Equatorial Guinea to explore and potentially exploit hydrocarbon resources around the islands—boosting its economic prospects in the Gulf of Guinea.
The decision also marks the end of a prolonged period of diplomatic tension between the two countries, and sets a critical precedent for peaceful border dispute resolutions across Africa.
Meanwhile, Gabonese opposition politician and former Prime Minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who served under ousted president Ali Bongo, voiced strong disapproval of the ruling, describing it as a “disaster.” He also warned of its political repercussions amid Gabon’s ongoing internal instability.
