Frontier Dispute (Benin/Niger) - Conclusion of the public hearings - Chamber ready to begin its deliberation

INTERNATIONAL COURTOFWSTICE

Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague. Tel: +31 (0)70 302 23 23. Cables: Intercourt,
The Hague. Fax: +31 (0)70 364 99 28. Telex: 32323. E-mail address:

mail@icj-cij .org. Internet address: http://www.icj-cij .org.

Press Release
Unofficial

No. 200517

11 March 2005

Frontier Dispute (Benin/Niger)

Conclusion of the public hearings;Cham ber ready to begin its deliberation

THE HAGUE, 11 March 2005. The public hearings before the Chamber of the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) formed to deal with the case conceming the Frontier Dispute (Benin/Niger)

were concluded today, Friday 11 March 2005. The Chamber will now begin its deliberation.

At the hearings, which opened on Monday 7 March 2005 at the Peace Palace, seat of the
Court, the delegation of Benin was led by H.E. Mr. Rogatien Biaou, Minister for Foreign Affairs
and African Integration, as Agent. The delegation of Niger was led by H.E.

Ms Aïchatou Mindaoudou, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Co-operation and African Integration, as
Agent.

The Chamber's judgment will be delivered at a public sitting, the date of which will be
announced in due course.

Final submissions of the Parties

At the conclusion of the oral proceedings the Parties presented the following final
submissions to the Chamber of the Court:

For Benin:

"For the reasons set out in its written and oral pleadings, the Republic of Benin
maintains its submissions and requests the Chamber of the International Court of
Justice kindly to decide:

(1) that the boundary between the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Niger takes
the following course:

from the point having co-ordinates 11o54' 15" latitude North and 02° 25' 10"

longitude East, it follows the median line of the River Mekrou as far as the point
having co-ordinates 12° 24'29" latitude North and 02° 49' 38" longitude East;

from that point, the boundary follows the left bank of the River [Niger] as far as
the point having co-ordinateso141'44" North and 03o36'44" East;

(2) that sovereignty over ali of the islands in the River [Niger], and in particular Lété
Island, lies with the Republic of Benin." - 2 -

For Niger:

"The Republic of Niger requests the Court to adjudge and declare that:

(1) The boundary between the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Niger, from

latitude 12° 24' 27" North, longitude 2° 49' 36" East, as far as latitude
11 o41' 40.7" North, longitude 3° 36' 44" East, follows the line of deepest
soundings in the River Niger, insofar as that line can be established as it was at the

date of independence.

(2) That line determines which islands belong to each Party;

the islands between the line of deepest soundings and the right bank of the river,
namely Pekinga, Tondi Kwaria Barou, Koki Barou, Sandi Tounga Barou,
GandégabiBarou Kaïna, Dan KoréGuirawa, Barou Elhadji Dan Djoda, Koundou

Barou and Elhadji Chaïbou Barou Kaïna, belong to the Republic of Benin;

the islands located between the line of deepest soundings and the left bank of the

river, namely Boumba Barou Béri,Boumba Barou Kaïna, Kouassi Barou, Sansan
Goungou, LétéGoungou, Monboye Tounga Barou, Sini Goungou, Lama Barou,
Kotcha Barou, Gagno Goungou, Kata Goungou, Gandégabi Barou Beri, Guirawa

Barou, Elhadji Chaïbou Barou Béri,Goussou Barou, Beyo Barou and DoléBarou,
belong to the Republic of Niger.

(3) The attribution of islands to the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Niger

according to the line of deepest soundings as determined at the date of
independence shall be regarded as final.

(4) With regard to the Gaya-Malanville bridges, the boundary passes through the
middle of each of those structures.

(5) The boundary between the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Niger in the

River Mekrou sector follows aline comprising two parts:

the first part is a straight line joining the point of confluence of the River Mekrou

with the River Niger to the point where the Paris meridian meets the Atacora
mountain range, indicative coordinates of which are as follows: latitude:
11 o41' 50" North; longitude: 2° 20' 14"East;

the second part of the line joins this latter point to the point where the former
boundary between the cercles of Say and Fada meets the former boundary

between the cercles of Fada and Atacora, indicative coordinates of which are as
follows: latitude: 11o 44' 37"North; longitude: 2° 18' 55" East." - 3 -

History of the proceedings and full transcripts of the hearings

The history of the proceedings as weil as the full transcripts of the hearings held from
7 to 11 March 2005 can be found on the Court's website (www.icj-cij.org). Click on "Docket" and

then on the hyperlink bearing the name of the case conceming the Frontier Dispute (Benin/Niger).

*

Information Department:
Mr. Arthur Witteveen, First Secretary of the Court (+31 70 302 23 36)

Mrs. Laurence Blairon and Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officers ( +31 70 302 23 37)
Email address: information @icj-cij.org