copenlu/druid huggingface dataset:
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2021-04-23): On 5 March 2021, the Press Office of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced that proceedings had been instituted in the Court by way of a Special Agreement between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The application pleads: "The Court is requested to determine whether the legal titles, treaties and international conventions invoked by the Parties have the force of law in the relations between the Gabonese Republic and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea in so far as they concern the delimitation of their common maritime and land boundaries and sovereignty over the islands of Mbanie/Mbane, Ccoctiers/Cocoteros, and Conga." (emphasis added) [...] Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have a long-standing maritime and territorial dispute over the ownership of three islands Mbanie/Mbane, Cocotiers/Cocoteros, and Congas. The dispute has been simmering since 1972 when there was a small military skirmish on the island of Mbanie/Mbane. It remained in obscurity until the hydrocarbon fields were discovered in the surrounding waters. In 2004, the leaders of both States jointly pledged before the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to negotiate a joint development zone in order to exploit the oil reserves. In 2004, the Secretary-Generalinitialized mediation through his special representative, but it had to be suspended in 2010 because of the souring relationship between the new Gabonese government and Equatorial Guinea. In 2011, at the invitation of the new UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the negotiations were restarted, with the aim of finding a mutually acceptable solution of the border dispute between the two parties for submission to the International Court of Justice. In 2016, these mediation efforts were successfully concluded.
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2020-03-03): Cérémonie concernant le Compromis relatif au différend frontalier entre le Gabon et la Guinée équatoriale [...] Under the Special Agreement concluded by the Heads of States of the two countries on 15 November 2016, the International Court of Justice is requested to determine whether the legal titles, treaties, and international agreements invoked by the Parties are applicable to the relations between the Gabonese Republic and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea regarding the delimitation of their common maritime and territorial boundaries and the sovereignty over the Mbanié, Cocotiers and Conga islands.
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-10-01): Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, two West African nations, are currently presenting their case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to resolve a territorial dispute dating back to the 1970s. The disagreement centers around three islets—Mbanié, Cocotier, and Conga—located in a maritime zone potentially rich in hydrocarbons. This conflict is part of a broader context of energy competition, where both nations aim to solidify their regional influence by securing natural resources. [...] The core issue involves maritime boundary delineation, but the stakes extend well beyond territorial sovereignty. The disputed maritime zone is believed to contain significant hydrocarbon reserves. Control over these resources could not only transform the economic prospects of both nations but also redefine their strategic position in Central Africa. Gabon, which currently occupies the islets, asserts its sovereignty based on the Bata Convention, while Equatorial Guinea accuses Libreville of illegal occupation since 1972.
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-08-26): On 19 August 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced that it will hold public hearings from 30 September to 4 October 2024, on the merits of the case between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea concerning land and maritime boundaries, as well as sovereignty over several islands. The dispute involves the islands of Mbanié/Mbañe, Cocotiers/Cocoteros, and Conga. The case was initiated in March 2021 under a Special Agreement signed in 2016 and ratified in 2020. The parties have asked the ICJ to determine the legal status of relevant treaties and agreements regarding their shared borders. Written submissions, including Memorials and Counter-Memorials, were filed on time, as directed by the Court’s orders.
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2018-02-24): Contemplate, dear reader, this image of a (cancelled-to-order) stamp, nominally from Equatorial Guinea, a tiny sovereign state on the west coast of Africa that has been grievously plundered and misruled by its leaders, both under Portuguese dominion and in the half-century since independence. The stamp is pretty enough — though the full-color reproduction of an Auguste Renoir painting of a very naked, very pink, big-bosomed young woman seems a bit, well, over the top. Can you seriously imagine a beleaguered citizen of this outlaw African state finding one of these in her or his local post office, for use on outgoing mail? Not likely. Remember all those rules set by the Universal Postal Union about what constitutes a legitimate stamp? (See blog post, September 2017.) Well, this stamp breaks most of those rules. It certainly has nothing to do with Equatorial Guinea. It’s doubtful it ever went on sale in the country, or if so was widely available for purchase. It is by no possible rhetorical stretch an emblem of Equatorial Guinean culture or sovereignty.
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2022-07-20): In addition to the above cases, one new case with a law of the sea dimension was referred to the Court during 2021. On 5 March, the Court was seized of a dispute between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea by means of a special agreement. In that agreement, which was signed in 2016 and came into force in March 2020, the parties request the Court to ‘determine whether the legal titles, treaties and international conventions invoked by the Parties have the force of law in the relations between [Gabon and Equatorial Guinea] in so far as they concern the delimitation of their common maritime and land boundaries and sovereignty over the islands of Mbanié/Mbañe, Cocotiers/Cocoteros and Conga’. The special agreement goes on to state that both parties recognise as applicable to the dispute the special Convention on the delimitation of French and Spanish possessions in West Africa, on the coasts of the Sahara and the Gulf of Guinea, signed in 1900. Gabon also recognises as applicable the Convention demarcating the land and maritime frontiers of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, signed in 1974. [...] Land and Maritime Delimitation and Sovereignty over Islands (Gabon/Equatorial Guinea), Order, 7 April 2021, available at https://www.icj-cij.org/public/files/case-related/179/179-20210407-ORD-01-00-EN.pdf.
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-09-30): The dispute, running for around 50 years, is over the 30-hectare (74-acre) island of Mbanie and two smaller islets, Cocotier and Conga. Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, two neighbors in West Africa and oil producers part of the OPEC cartel, have asked the court in The Hague to settle the dispute over the islands off the coast of Gabon. The countries have asked the court over the "delimitation of their common maritime and land boundaries and sovereignty over the islands of Mbanié/Mbañe, Cocotiers/Cocoteros and Conga".
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2022-02-08): Corisco Bay is a small bay on the border of two states: Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Three islands, Corisco, Elobey Grande and Elobey Chico, have long been under the control of Spain, and more recently of the independent republic of Equatorial Guinea. Further South, a tiny sand island called Mbanié is closer to Gabon than to Equatorial Guinea. Gabon claims sovereignty on the basis of proximity of the mainland, while Equatorial Guinea claims it is part of a larger group of islands that are under its own sovereignty. While of little value itself, the island is of great importance in the delimitation of territorial waters in an area that is very rich in mineral resources, particularly oil. This is the source of continual tension between the two states. As of today, Gabon administers Mbanié and maintains a military presence on the island.
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2021-04-14): For lack of consensus, the two neighboring countries, members of the international community and members of continental and regional groupings have decided to bring their border dispute to international justice on the subject of the property of the Mbanié, Cocotiers and Conga islands. Competent to judge territorial disputes between the States, the ICJ was seized so that the law is said on this subject which poisons the relations between the two countries. [...] In its capacity as civil party, Equatorial Guinea asks to "say whether the legal titles, treaties and international conventions invoked by the Parties are lawful in the relations between the Gabonese Republic and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea with regard to the delimitation of their common maritime and land borders and sovereignty over the Mbanié, Cocotiers and Conga islands ".
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2021-07-08): A dispute over maritime rights between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in Corisco Bay is heading for the courts, with implications for the exploration and development of hydrocarbons resources. The dispute between the two countries dates back to the early 1970s and centres on three uninhabited islands, Mbanié and the two tiny neighbouring islets of Conga and Les Cocotiers, which both sides claim.
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-10-03): Since the beginning of the week, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea have been engaged in a legal confrontation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, seeking to resolve a territorial dispute that has persisted for five decades. The conflict centers on the sovereignty claimed by both nations over three small islands in the Gulf of Guinea, whose surrounding waters are believed to be rich in oil. Following the arguments presented by Malabo on Monday, September 30th, the focus shifted to Libreville’s legal representatives on Wednesday, October 2nd. At the heart of Gabon’s defense was a 1974 convention between the two nations, which the lawyers from Equatorial Guinea disparagingly referred to as a "piece of paper." Nevertheless, Gabon believes this document serves as compelling evidence of its sovereignty over the islands of Mbanié, Cocotier, and Conga, which Equatorial Guinea contests. [...] Conversely, Equatorial Guinea continues to dispute the existence of this convention, asserting that, despite the islands being geographically closer to Gabon’s coast, they became part of its territory upon independence. Malabo contends that Mbanié, Cocotier, and Conga were annexed without resistance by the Spanish colonizer nearly two centuries ago.
Claim: Cocotiers is a territory of Equatorial Guinea (Cocotiers, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-10-02): Gabon presented its case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday, asserting sovereignty over three disputed islands in oil-rich waters, a claim contested by Equatorial Guinea. The two West African nations are locked in a territorial dispute over the 30-hectare island of Mbanie and two smaller islets, Cocotier and Conga, potentially rich in oil and gas deposits.
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-06-17): Banc du Geyser (also Banc du Geysir) is a mostly submerged reef in the Mozambique Channel's northeastern part, 125 km (78 mi) northeast from Mayotte, 112 km (70 mi) southwest of the Glorioso Islands and 200 km (124 mi) off the northwestern coast of Madagascar. [...] France and the Comoros claim the Banc du Geyser as part of their exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The reef is also claimed by Madagascar. From the French point of view, it is a part of the EEZ of Glorioso Islands, one of their Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar announced its annexation in 1976, presumably because of the possibility of oil fields in the vicinity but the Banc du Geyser is controlled in fact by the French forces armées de la zone sud de l'océan Indien. [...] External links [edit]- "Satellite images of Banc du Geysir". Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2020-09-19): Which countries are involved in the "Banc du Geyser Reef Dispute"? [...] Notes: Banc du Geyser is a mostly submerged reef in the northeastern Mozambique channel, which is located northeast from Mayotte, southwest of the Glorioso Islands, and off the northwestern coast of Madagascar. It is a disputed dangerous oval-shaped reef in which its ownership is claimed by Comoros, Madagascar, and France, claiming Banc du Geyser as part of the Exclusive Economic Zones of the said countries. France classified this reef as a marine protected area to preserve the endangered flora and fauna of the Glorioso Islands.
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2022-05-15): Geyser is a reef located 110 km northeast of Mayotte, 122 km southwest of the Glorious Islands and 300 km west of Madagascar's northern tip. The reef is separated from Maylotte by the 3500m deep abyss.
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-01-25): Le banc du Geyser (ou banc du Geysir) est un récif corallien situé à 110 km au nord-est de Mayotte[1], dans l'océan Indien. Géographie [modifier | modifier le code]Le banc du Geyser est situé à 110 km au nord-est de Mayotte et 122 km au sud-ouest des îles Glorieuses, ainsi qu'à 300 km à l'ouest de la pointe nord de Madagascar[2]. Le banc domine des fonds abyssaux de 3 500 m de profondeur qui le séparent de Mayotte. [...] Géologie [modifier | modifier le code]Selon Baudé et al (1983), le banc du Geyser serait le résultat d'une remontée de magma basaltique au niveau de l'ancienne croûte océanique pendant de la dérive de Madagascar vers le Sud-Est lors de l'expansion océanique (théorie du volcanisme intra-plaque)[3]. Ce n'est pas un banc de sable, mais un banc récifal, édifice corallien construit sur un haut-fond en pleine mer. Les sédiments accumulés par les vagues sur les récifs permettent la formation de petites îles coralliennes, comme les Glorieuses, Juan de Nova ou Île Tromelin-Tromelin[5].
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (1999-02-22): Banc du Geyser (also Banc du Geysir) is a mostly submerged reef in the Mozambique Channel's northeastern part, 125 km (78 mi) northeast from Mayotte, 112 km (70 mi) southwest of the Glorioso Islands, and 200 km (124 mi) off the northwestern coast of Madagascar.
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2022-07-29): Banc Du Geyser is a reef off the northwestern coast of Madagascar in the Mozambique Channel. It’s around 125 kilometres northeast of Mayotte, France’s tiniest and least-known overseas territory. However, Mayotte was geographically part of the Comoros Islands when Comoros became an independent country in 1975. Potential agreements or treaties between the three countries of France, the Comoros, and Madagascar regarding the future position and state of Banc Du Geyser, including whether it should remain solely the property of one country or if it can be shared among multiple countries in light of the region’s economic and environmental factors, are possible solutions to this dispute. [...] The issue over Banc Du Geyser between the Comoros, France, and Madagascar has yet to be settled, even though many people now believe the reef belongs to France because of French activities. Except for certain rocks in the south of the reef, the oval form of the reef puts it at risk because it is only exposed at low tide. As sea levels rise due to global warming, some protection must be implemented to prevent the reef from completely disappearing.
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2022-04-19): Banc du Geyser (also Banc du Geysir) is a mostly submerged reef in the Mozambique Channel’s northeastern part, 125 km (78 mi) northeast from Mayotte, 112 km (70 mi) southwest of the Glorioso Islands, and 200 km (124 mi) off the northwestern coast of Madagascar. [...] France and the Comoros claim the Banc du Geyser as part of their exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The reef is also claimed by Madagascar. From the French point of view, it is a part of the EEZ of Glorioso Islands, one of their Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar announced its annexation in 1976, presumably because of the possibility of oil fields in the vicinity but the Banc du Geyser is controlled in fact by the French forces armées de la zone sud de l’océan Indien.
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2022-07-13): Banc du Geyser (also Banc du Geysir) is a mostly submerged reef in the Mozambique Channel’s northeastern part, 125 km (78 mi) northeast from Mayotte, 112 km (70 mi) southwest of the Glorioso Islands, and 200 km (124 mi) off the northwestern coast of Madagascar. The Banc is a dangerous oval-shaped reef 8 km (5 mi) long and 5 km (3 mi) wide that becomes exposed only at low tides, with the exception of some rock formations in the southern part of the reef. The rocks are generally 1.5 to 3 m (5 to 10 ft) in height; the largest is South Rock, with a height of 8 m (26 ft), similar to a boat under sail. In the eastern part of the reef there are some sandy cays, 1 to 3 m (3 to 10 ft) in height covered with grass and small bushes. [...] France and the Comoros claim the Banc du Geyser as part of their exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The reef is also claimed by Madagascar. From the French point of view, it is a part of the EEZ of Glorioso Islands, one of their Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar announced its annexation in 1976, presumably because of the possibility of oil fields in the vicinity but the Banc du Geyser is controlled in fact by the French forces armées de la zone sud de l’océan Indien.
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-06-10): In this edition of our series on territorial disputes, we turn our attention to the Banc du Geyser, a submerged reef located in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the French overseas territory of Mayotte. Despite its small size and remote location, the Banc du Geyser has been the subject of a long-standing dispute between France and Madagascar, highlighting the complexities of maritime boundary disputes. This post will explore the history, key players, and current status of the Banc du Geyser dispute. The Banc du Geyser is a submerged reef that is exposed at low tide, located approximately 100 kilometers northeast of Mayotte and 130 kilometers southwest of the northern tip of Madagascar. The reef is situated in a strategically important area of the Indian Ocean, near major shipping lanes and fishing grounds. The Banc du Geyser has no permanent human habitation and is uninhabited by wildlife due to its isolation and harsh conditions. The dispute over the Banc du Geyser dates back to the colonial era when France claimed the reef as part of its overseas territories. Madagascar, then a French colony, also claimed sovereignty over the reef based on its proximity to the island. After Madagascar gained independence in 1960, the dispute over the Banc du Geyser continued, with both countries asserting their claims to the reef.
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2009-03-14): Banc du Geyser (also Banc du Geysir) is a mostly submerged reef in the Mozambique Channel's northeastern part, 125 km (78 mi) northeast from Mayotte, 112 km (70 mi) southwest of the Glorioso Islands and 200 km (124 mi) off the northwestern coast of Madagascar. The Banc is a dangerous oval-shaped reef 8 km (5 mi) long and 5 km (3 mi) wide that becomes exposed only at low tides, with the exception of some rock formations in the southern part of the reef. The rocks are generally 1.5 to 3 m (5 to 10 ft) in height; the largest is South Rock, with a height of 8 m (26 ft), similar to a boat under sail. [...] France and the Comoros claim the Banc du Geyser as part of their exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The reef is also claimed by Madagascar. From the French point of view, it is a part of the EEZ of Glorioso Islands, one of their Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar announced its annexation in 1976, presumably because of the possibility of oil fields in the vicinity but the Banc du Geyser is controlled in fact by the French forces armées de la zone sud de l'océan Indien.
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2015-10-31): Banc du Geyser (also Banc du Geysir) is a mostly submerged reef in the Mozambique Channel's northeastern part, 125 km (78 mi) northeast from Mayotte, 112 km (70 mi) southwest of the Glorioso Islands, and 200 km (124 mi) off the northwestern coast of Madagascar. [...] France and the Comoros claim the Banc du Geyser as part of their exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The reef is also claimed Madagascar. From the French point of view, it is part of the EEZ of Glorioso Islands, one of their Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar announced its annexation in 1976, presumably because of the possibility of oil fields in the vicinity but the Banc du Geyser is controlled in fact by the French forces armées de la zone sud de l'océan Indien. In 2012, France included the reef in the parc naturel marin des Glorieuses, a marine protected area, to preserve the endangered flora and fauna of Glorioso Islands. [...] External links - Satellite images of Banc du Geysir at the Wayback Machine (archived December 23, 2010)
Claim: Banc du Geyser is a territory of Madagascar (Banc du Geyser, 2024-10-09)
Evidence (2024-10-05): Two of the islands—Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island—and the Bassas da India atoll lie in the Mozambique Channel west of Madagascar, while a third island, Tromelin Island, lies about 450 kilometres (280 mi) east of Madagascar and the Glorioso Islands lies about 200 kilometres (120 mi) northwest of Madagascar. Also in the Mozambique Channel is Banc du Geyser, a mostly submerged reef considered a part of the Glorioso Islands by France and the Comoros. [...] Sovereignty dispute [edit]Mauritius, Madagascar, and the Comoros dispute France's sovereignty over these islands. Mauritius claims Tromelin Island and states that the island, discovered by France in 1722, was not ceded by the Treaty of Paris in 1814. Madagascar claims sovereignty over the Glorioso Islands (including Banc du Geyser), though the island group was never a part of the Malagasy Protectorate, having been a part of the Colony of Mayotte and dependencies, then a part of the French Comoros that had become a separately administered colony from Madagascar in 1946. The Comoros also claims the Glorioso Islands (including Banc du Geyser), as a part of the disputed French region of Mayotte. Furthermore, Madagascar has also claimed Bassas da India, Europa Island, and Juan de Nova Island since 1972,[5] and a 1979 United Nations resolution (without binding force) demanded the cession of these islands to Madagascar.[6][7] Seychelles claimed a part of the Scattered Islands too before the signing of the France–Seychelles Maritime Boundary Agreement.