Kasikili/Sedudu Island (Botswana/Namibia) - Hearings to be held from 15 February to 5 March 1999 on the merits of the case

INTERNATIONAL COURTOFJUSTICE
Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague. Tel.(31-70-302 23 23). Cables: Intercourt, The Hague.
Telefax (31-70-364 99 28). Telex 32323. Internet address: http: // www.icj-cij.org

Communiqué
unofficial
forimmediaterelease

No. 98/29
1 October 1998

Kasikili!Sedudu Island @otswana!Namibia)

Hearings to be held from 15 February to 5 March 1999 on the rnerits of the case

• THE HAGUE, 1 October 1998. Hearings in the case concerning
Kasikili/Sedudu Island (Botswana!Namibia) will be he!d from Monday 15 February to
Friday 5 March 1999 before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of

the United Nations, in the Peace Palace at The Hague, seat of the Court.

The hearings willbe concerned with the merits of the case.

The programme is the following:

First roundof pleadings

Monday 15 February to Thursday 18 February: Narnibia
Monday 22 February to Thursday 25 February: Botswana

Second round of pleadings

Monday 1 Marchand Tuesday 2 March: Narnibia
Thursday 4 Marchand Friday 5 march: Botswana

Ail sittings will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., subject to possible changes with regard
to the second round of pleadings.

Histozy of the dispute

On 29 May 1996 the Government of the Republic of Botswana and the Government of the
Republic ofNamibia notifiedjointly to the Registrar of the Court a Special Agreement between the
two States signed at Gaborone (Botswana) on 15 February 1996, which came into force on

15 May 1996, for the submission to the Court of the dispute existing between them concerning the
boundary around Kasikili/Sedudu Island and the legal status of the Island.

The Special Agreement refers to a Treaty between Great Britain and Germany respecting the

spheres of influence of the two countries, signed on 1 July 1890, and to the appointment,
on 24 May 1992, of a Joint Team of Technical Experts "to determine the boundary between
Namibia and Botswana around Kasikili/Sedudu Island" on the basis of that Treaty and of the
applicable principlesf international law. - 2-

Finding themselves unable to reach agreement on the question, the Joint Team ofTechnical
Experts recommended "recourse to the peaceful settlement of the dispute on the basis of the
applicable rules and principles of international law".

At the Summit Meeting held in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 15 February 1995, President Masire
of Botswana and President Nujoma ofNamibia agreed "to submit the dispute to the International
Court of Justice for a final and binding determination". ·

Under the terms of the Special Agreement, the Parties asked the Court to "determine, on the
basisof the Anglo-German Treaty of l July 1890 andthe rules and principles of international law,
the boundary between Namibia and Botswana around Kasikili/Sedudu Island and the legal status
of the island".

By an ûrder of 24 June 1996, the Court fixed 28 February 1997 as the time-limit for the
filingof a Memorial by each of the Parties and 28 November 1997 as the time-limit for the filing
of a Counter-Memorial by each of the Parties. These written pleadings have been duly filed by
Botswana and Namibia within the time-limits fixed. •

By an Order of 27 February 1998, the Court, taking into account the agreement between the
Parties, fixed 27 November 1998 as the time-limit for the filing oftheir respective Replies.

Website address of the Court: http://www.icj-cij.org

Information Office:
Mr. Arthur Witteveen, Secretaryof the Court (tel: 31-70 302 2336)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon, Information Officer (tel:-70 302 2337)

E-mail address: [email protected]

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