The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled in favor of Equatorial Guinea in its longstanding territorial dispute with Gabon over a group of small islands located in the resource-rich Gulf of Guinea.
In a binding judgment delivered on Monday, the ICJ affirmed that Equatorial Guinea holds legal ownership of the islands, referencing a 1900 agreement that divided colonial territories between France and Spain in West Africa. The court determined that this historical convention provided a valid basis for Equatorial Guinea’s claim.
The court rejected Gabon’s claim, which was based on a 1974 agreement, stating that it did not carry the legal authority of a treaty.
“The title with legal force concerning sovereignty over the islands is the title held by the Kingdom of Spain as of 12 October 1968, which was succeeded by the Republic of Equatorial Guinea,” the ICJ stated.
As a result of the decision, Gabon is now required to withdraw its military forces from the island of Mbanié — a small, sparsely populated landmass just under one kilometer long. Gabonese forces had occupied the island since 1972 after expelling Equatorial Guinea’s troops and maintaining a military presence ever since.
The sovereignty dispute, which also involves the nearby islands of Cocotiers and Conga, had been largely dormant until the early 2000s, when potential offshore oil reserves renewed interest in the area.
In 2016, following prolonged mediation led by the United Nations, both countries agreed to submit the case to the World Court for final resolution.
