Between 30 September and 4 October 2024, the International Court of Justice held public hearings in the case Gabon/Equatorial Guinea concerning the territorial and maritime delimitation of their common border, and sovereignty over disputed islands in the Bay of Corisco.

Dr. Torres Camprubí has had the honor to represent the Republic of Equatorial Guinea as counsel in this case, along with attorneys at Foley Hoag LLP: Derek S. Smith, Andrew Loewenstein, Tafadzwa Pasipanodya, Diego Cadena, Arsalan Suleman, Peter Tzeng, Baldomero Casado and Elena Sotnikova; Barristers at 11KBW Professor Philippe Sands KC, Mr. Paul Reichler, Mr. Remi Reichhold; and Barristers at Essex Court Chambers: Professor Dapo Akande and Alison McDonald KC.

The proceedings were instituted on 5 March 2021 by way of a Special Agreement between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, signed in 2016 and entered into force in March 2020, according to which the Parties request the Court “to determine whether the legal titles, treaties and international conventions invoked by the Parties have the force of law in the relations between the Gabonese Republic and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea in so far as they concern the delimitation of their common maritime and land boundaries and sovereignty over the islands of Mbanié/Mbañe, Cocotiers/Cocoteros and Conga”.

At the hearings, the delegation of Equatorial Guinea was led by HE Mr Domingo Mba Esono, Minister Delegate of Hydrocarbons and Mining Development, as Agent. The delegation of Gabon was led by HE Ms Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo, Honorary President of the Constitutional Court, as Agent.

The Court will now begin its deliberation, and its decision will be delivered at a public sitting, the date of which will be announced in due course. More information on this case, including the Parties respective written pleadings and full transcripts of the two rounds of oral argument, can be accessed here: Land and Maritime Delimitation and Sovereignty over Islands (Gabon/Equatorial Guinea) (icj-cij.org)