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The
decision effectively hands the islands to Equatorial Guinea.
The countries brought their dispute to The International Court
of Justice in 2021, asking judges to determine what legal
agreement settles the possession of the oil-rich islands.
The 15-judge panel found a 1900 treaty between Spain and France,
which divided up colonial holdings, to be the ultimate
authority.
A later agreement, known as the 1974 Bata Convention, which
gives the islands to Gabon, was dismissed as “not a treaty
having the force of law,” Judge Julia Sebutinde said.
The document was contested by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon did
not produce an original copy for the court.
Equatorial Guinea had control of the territory until 1972, when
Gabon took over the largest island, Mbanie, in a military
skirmish. When oil was discovered in coastal waters, the dispute
reignited.
The economies of both countries are highly dependent on oil, but
production from existing areas has been in decline in recent
years.
The countries asked the court to settle the ownership question
after repeatedly failing in efforts to find a diplomatic
solution.
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