INTERNATIONAL COURTOF JUSTICE
Peace Palace, 2517 KJTheHague. 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
for immediate release
No. 99/44
22 October 1999
Land and Maritime Boundazy between Cameroon and .Nigeria
(Cameroon v. Niged3)
The Court authorizes Equatorial Guines ta intervene in the case
THE HAGUE, 22 October 1999. By an Order of21 October 1999 the International Court
of Justice (ICJ) authorized Equatorial Guinea to intervene in the case conceming the Land and
MaritimeBoundar:y between Cameroon and Nigeria (Cameroon v. Nigeria) "to the extent, in the
manner and for the purposes set out in its Application for permission to intervene".
The Court took the decision unanimously.
ln its Order, the Court fixed 4 April 2001 as the time-limit for the filing of a written
statement by Equatorial Guinea and 4 July 2001 as the time-limit for the filing of written
observations by Cameroon and by Nigeria on that statement.
Background information
On 30 June 1999 Equatorial Guinea filed an Application for permission ta intervene in the
above-mentioned case. It stated that the purpose of its intervention was "ta protect [its] legal rights
in the Gulf of Guinea by ail legal means" and "ta inform the Court of Equatorial Guinea's legal
• rights and interests sa that these may remain unaffected as the Court proceeds to address the
questionof the maritime boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria". Equatorial Guinea made it
clear that it did not seek ta intervene in those aspects of the proceedings that relate to the land
boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria, nor ta become a party ta the case. It further stated that,
althoughitwould be open to the three countries to request the Court not only ta determine the
Cameroon-Nigeria maritime boundary but also ta determine Equatorial Guinea'smaritime boundary
with these two States, Equatorial Guinea bad made no such request and wished ta continue to seek
to determine its·maritime boundary with its neighbours by negotiation.
ln support oitApplication, Equatorial Guinea stressed that one of the claims presented by
Cameroon in its Memorial of 16 March 1995 "ignored the legal rights of Equatorial Guinea in the
most flagrant way" because it disregarded the mediane tine dividing maritime zones between
two States of which every point is equidistant from the coasts of each of those States) and that,
moreover,"in the bilateral diplomacy between Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon ...
never once hinted that it did not accept the median line as the maritime boundary between itself and
Equatorial Guinea". Observing thate general maritime area where the interests of Equatorial
Guinea, Nigeria and Cameroon come together is an area of active ail and gas exploration and
·exploitation", Equatorial Guinea maintained that "any judgment extending the boundary between-------- ---
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Cameroon and Nigeria across the median line with Equatorial Guinea [would] be relied upon by
concessionaires who would likely ignore Equatorial Guinea's protests and proceed to explore and
exploit resources tothe legal and economie detriment" of that country.
Under Article 83 of the Rules of Court, Equatorial Guinea's Application was immediately
communicated to Cameroon and Nigeria, and the Court fixed 16 August 1999 as the time-lim itfor
the filing of written observations by those States.
Reasoning of the Court
In its Order, the Court first states that in their written observations, neither Cameroon nor
Nigeria abjects to the Application by Equatorial Guinea for permission to intervene being granted.
The Court adds that "Equatorial Guinea has sufficiently established that it has an interest of
a legal nature which could be affected by any judgment which the Court might band dawn for the
purpose of determining the maritime boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria".
The Court therefore considers that, in view of the position of the Parties and the conclusions
which it has reached, "there is nothing to prevent the Application by Equatorial Guinea ...from
being granted".
Since copies of the pleadings and documents as filed in the case at present have already been
communicated to Equatorial Guinea, and since a copy of the Reply of Cameroon and of the
Rejoinder of Nigeria, which the Court has directed them to submit, will also be so communicated,
the Court finds it necessary to fix time-limits for the filing, respectively,ritten statement by
Equatorial Guinea and written observations by Cameroon and by Nigeria on that statement. The
Court adds that those time-limits must "so far as possible coïncide with those already fixed for the
pleadings in the case".
The full text of the Order will shortly be available on the Court's website at the following
address: http://www.icj-cij.org
•
Information Office:
Mr. Arthur Witteveen, First Secretary (tel: + 31 70 302 2336)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon, Information Officer (tel: + 31 70 302 2337)
E-mail address: [email protected]
Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria (Cameroon v. Nigeria) - The Court authorizes Equatorial Guinea to intervene in the case