Summaries of Judgments, Advisory Opinions and Orders of the Internationa
l Court of Justice
Not an official document
CASECONCERNINT GHEFRONTHED RISPUTE (BURKINA FASO1
Orderof10January1986
An orderissuedbytheChamberoftheCourtconstitutedto ingsinstitutedon 20October1983bythenotificationofthe
dealwiththefrontierdisputebetweenBurkiFasoandMali SpecialAgreementbetweentheGovernmentoftheRepublic
unanimouslyindicatedprovisional measures.. of UpperVolta(nowBurkinaFaso)andthe Governmentof
Amongothermeasures,the Chamber askedthe Govern- theRepublicofMali,signedon 16September1983andrela-
ments of BurkinaFaso and Malito withdrawtheir armed tive to the frontier disputebetweenthe two States,the fol-
forcesto suchpositions, orbehindsuchlinesasmay,withinlowingprovisionalmeasures:
twentydaysof thedeliveryof theOrderbe determinedby A. The Governmentof BurkinaFaso and the Govern-
agreementbetweenthe twoGovernments,it being under- ment oftheRepublicofMali shouldeachof themensurethat
stoodthatthetermsofthetroopwithdrawalwillbelaiddown no action of anykind is taken which mightaggravateor
by the agreementin question:failing such agreement, thetendthedisputesubmitted totheChamberorprejudicethe
Chamberwoulditselfindicatetheseterms. right of the otPartyto compliancewith whatever judg-
The Chamberalso calledon bothParties tocontinueo menttheChambermayrenderinthecase;
observe theceasefirewhichhas alreadytakenplace; notto B. BothGovernmentsshouldrefrainfromanyactlikely
modifytheprevioussituationasregardstheadministrationofo impede thegatheringof evidence materialto the present
thedisputedareas;andtoavoidanyactlikelytoaggravateor case;
extendthe disputeofwhichtheChamberisseised. C. Both Governmentsshouldcontinueto observe the
ceasefireinstitubydagreement betweenthetwo Headsof
Stateon31December 1985;
D. Both Governments should withdrawtheir armed
forcestosuchpositions,orbehind suchlines,asmay,within
twentydaysof thedateof the presentOrder,bedetermined
TheChamberconstitutedinthe caseof theFrontieDis- by agreement between those Governments,it being
pute(BurkinaFasolMali)iscomposedasfollows: understoodthattheermsofthetroopwithdrawalwillbelaid
PresidentMohammedBedjaoui;JudgesManfredLachs, down by the agreementin questionand that, failing such
Jod-Maria Ruda;Judgesad hocFransoisLuchaire.Georges agreement, thehamberwill itselfindicatethemby means
Abi-Saab. ofanOrder;
E. Inregardto the administrationofthedispuareas,
the situationwhichprevailedbeforethe armedactions that
gaverisetothe requestsforprovisional measures sdotln
bemodifid,
2. CallsupontheAgentsofthePartiestonotifytheReg-
ORDERINDICATING PROVISION MEASURES istrar without delayof any agreementconcluded between
theirovernments within the scopeofpoinD above;
3. Decidesthat,pendingitsfinaljudgment,andwithout
unanimously, prejudiceto the applicationof Article 76of the Rules,the
1. Indicates,pendingits finaldecision in theproceed-hamberwillremainseisedof the questionscoveredby the
present Order.
Summary of the Order of 10 January 1986