Luanda: Angola witnessed on Tuesday in Addis Ababa the signing of a Joint Commitment Agreement between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, aimed at ending a long-standing territorial dispute between the two countries. Foreign Minister T©te Ant³nio witnessed the event, held at the African Union headquarters on the sidelines of the 49th Ordinary Session of the continental organization's Executive Council.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the agreement establishes mechanisms for the full and coordinated implementation of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling of May 19, 2025, regarding land and maritime delimitation and sovereignty over the islands of Mbani© (Mba±e), Cocotiers (Cocoteros), and Conga, located in Corisco Bay. The understanding formally concludes a territorial and resource dispute between the two neighboring countries that had persisted for over half a century.
The agreement reflects the commitment of member states and the African Union to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and reinforces the principle of "African solutions to African challenges" by demonstrating the continent's capacity to find diplomatic and legal answers to its disputes, the statement notes.
Under the terms of the document, bilateral technical commissions will be established to work on the physical demarcation of borders and the concerted management of shared maritime resources in the Corisco Bay region. Gabon and Equatorial Guinea also committed to transforming the former disputed zone into an area of co-development, peaceful hydrocarbon exploration, and cross-border cooperation.
On that occasion, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, congratulated the Heads of State of both countries for demonstrating political maturity and hailed the agreement as an example for the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). He highlighted the importance of this understanding for continental efforts to "Silence the Guns in Africa" through the use of legal and diplomatic conflict resolution mechanisms.
Witnessing the event, Minister T©te Ant³nio reiterated the support of Angola and the Central African region for initiatives aimed at consolidating political stability, respect for international borders, and regional economic integration.
