ICJ Rules in Favor of Equatorial Guinea in Decades-Long Island Dispute with Gabon

Edition: Widad WAHBI

In a landmark decision delivered on Monday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in favor of Equatorial Guinea in its longstanding territorial dispute with Gabon over three small islands located in potentially oil-rich waters off the coast of West Africa.

The ruling concerns the islands of Mbanié — approximately 30 hectares in size — as well as the smaller islets of Cocotiers and Conga. The two neighboring nations have contested sovereignty over these territories since the early 1970s, citing their strategic location and potential hydrocarbon resources.

The Court’s decision, which is binding and cannot be appealed, brings to a close a decades-long diplomatic standoff. The ICJ determined that the legal and historical evidence presented by Equatorial Guinea outweighed the claims made by Gabon.

The islands in question lie off the Corisco Bay, an area where maritime boundaries have long been unclear. The decision is expected to set the stage for more precise demarcation of maritime zones between the two countries and could open the way for future exploration or joint development initiatives.

Equatorial Guinea has welcomed the ruling as a “victory for diplomacy and international law,” while Gabonese officials have yet to issue an official statement.