Gabon suspends talks with Equatorial Guinea over Mbanié island dispute

Gabon announced on 30 July 2026 that it was suspending its participation in the bilateral talks with Equatorial Guinea concerning the contested island of Mbanié and adjacent maritime zones. The talks, organized under the African Union, were meant to implement the International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment delivered on 19 May 2025, which affirmed the principle of the ruling but did not alter existing borders.

Libreville’s foreign ministry, represented by spokesperson Marie‑Noëlle Ada Meyo, said the joint engagement agreement signed in Addis‑Ababa was misrepresented by Malabo as a step toward executing a favorable ICJ decision. Gabon argues the document was intended only to set a framework for dialogue, not to acknowledge any territorial concession. Equatorial Guinea’s statements on social media, according to Gabon, suggested otherwise, prompting the suspension.

Both sides maintain that the ICJ ruling remains binding and final, and the dispute now centres on interpretations and public communication rather than the legal merits of the case.