Beyond borders: What the ICJ’s ruling on Equatorial Guinea means for justice, sovereignty and the people

Earlier this month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) reaffirmed something Equatorial Guineans have long known in their hearts: the islets of Mbañé, Conga, and Cocoteros belong to Equatorial Guinea. But while the ruling is about land and sovereignty, its deeper meaning lies elsewhere: in justice, accountability, and the right of a nation’s people to benefit from their own resources.

For over 50 years, these tiny islands have been at the centre of a quiet but consequential dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, with profits flowing to the powerful. The ICJ’s decision ended the legal ambiguity and placed responsibility squarely on both states to respect international law. But more importantly, it offers a rare opportunity: to do right by the people.

Equatorial Guinea is one of the richest countries in Africa, at least on paper. Its offshore oil fields have generated billions of dollars in revenue since the early 1990s, exploited by foreign companies such as Chevron, Trident Energy, Kosmos Energy and Panoro Energy. These firms, operating in fields like Ceiba and Okume, extract over 35,000 barrels of oil per day. Yet today, more than 70% of Equatoguineans live in poverty. Why? Because this wealth has never been shared. It has been hoarded by a regime that treats the state as personal property.

Meanwhile, Gabon is exploiting oil fields in the Kiarsseny area adjacent to Corisco Bay under Equatorial Guinean sovereignty (through Tullow Oil) and is carrying out several prospecting campaigns in what was, until recently, the disputed area. Projects like Nyonie Deep 1 and Topaze-Pilote are already in development, with production expected to begin by 2030. These actions, carried out during a period of contested sovereignty, not only flout international norms but they deepen distrust, fuel tensions, and set a dangerous precedent.

This is why NEXOS welcomes the ICJ’s ruling—but with a warning. We must not allow history to repeat itself on these newly reaffirmed territories. Any future oil exploration in the Gulf of Guinea must be conditional on transparency, democratic reforms, and real oversight. Otherwise, these islets will simply become more pawns in the corrupt game that has long impoverished our country.

We also call on the government of Gabon to honour the ruling, withdraw its military presence, and support peaceful border demarcation under UN supervision. President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has a chance to show that Gabon’s new leadership respects international law and sets a different standard.

At NEXOS, we see this moment as more than a diplomatic footnote—it’s a fork in the road. Equatorial Guinea can choose to continue down the path of kleptocracy, or it can use this decision as a turning point toward justice, good governance, and a people-first economy. Our role is to make sure the world is watching and to give our people the tools and platform to demand more.

This ruling is about more than these three islands. It’s about sovereignty, justice and respect for the rule of law, ultimately laying strong foundations of mutual respect and collaboration for generations to come.