The International Court of Justice has ruled in favor of Equatorial Guinea in its territorial dispute with Gabon over three oil-rich, uninhabited islands—Mbanie, Cocoteros, and Conga. The court upheld a 1900 treaty between Spain and France as the valid legal basis for ownership, dismissing Gabon’s claim based on the 1974 Bata Convention. It cited the convention’s lack of legal standing and the absence of an original document as justification for its decision. Equatorial Guinea had control of the islands until 1972, when Gabon seized Mbanie during a brief armed conflict. The dispute intensified following the discovery of oil in nearby waters, prompting both nations, heavily reliant on oil revenues, to seek a legal resolution after failed diplomatic efforts.
AP
