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afrol News, 3 May - Benin and Niger today jointly seized the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague of a boundary dispute between them. The countries' common border is only loosely defined by River Niger and its tributary, River Mékrou. By joint letter of 11 April 2002, filed today in the ICJ, the two states had notified to the Court a Special Agreement, which was signed on 15 June 2001 in Cotonou and entered into force on 11 April 2002. Niger and Benin agree to submit their boundary dispute to a Chamber to be formed by the ICJ. The Agreement especially emphasises the importance of a peaceful solution to the dispute. "Pending the judgment of the Chamber, the Parties undertake to preserve peace, security and quiet among the peoples of the two States," one article reads. The Court was requested to determine the course of the boundary between the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Niger in the sector of the River Niger and in the sector of the River Mékrou. The Court has to specify which state owns each of the islands in the River Niger, and in particular Lété Island. The dispute over Lété Island has over thirty years of history. With independence in 1960, Niger was given the right to administer the island, something Benin doesn't accept. There are ongoing conflicts between the two peoples living on the island, and from time to time, military forces from both countries have intervened.
The sovereignty over the island has grown into a national issue in both countries. In Niger, in 2000 three journalists had even been found guilty of "disturbing public order" and "spreading false news" just for publishing an article about a quarrel between Benin and Niger over Lété Island. In general, though, Niger-Benin relations have been marked by mutual respect and friendship. Landlocked Niger depends on Benin for its overseas trade as Cotonou is the closest transit harbour from Niamey. The Beninese government has also been noted for its unwillingness to criticise the shifting regimes in Niamey. Given the friendly relations between Niamey and Cotonou, asking for an international court order is a positive step; other countries have gone to war for less. The Niger-Benin Agreement also stipulates that the two countries "accept as final and binding upon them the judgment" of the ICJ. From the day on which the judgment is rendered, the parties will have "18 months in which to commence the works of demarcation of the boundary," the Agreement foresees the process.
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