NIGER-BURKINA FASO CONCUR ON TERMS OF REFERRAL OF BORDER

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000110 DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA PARIS FOR AF WATCHER PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PBTS ECIN PGOV SOCI ICJ UV NG BN SUBJECT: NIGER-BURKINA FASO CONCUR ON TERMS OF REFERRAL OF BORDER ISSUE TO THE ICJ ¶1. On February 23-24, Government of Niger (GON) and Government of Burkina Faso foreign ministers, experts, local authorities, and community leaders met in Niamey to finalize the "Projet de Compromis Commun de Saisine de la Haute Cour de Justice" (Joint Consensus Project for Referral to the International Court of Justice - ICJ) regarding peaceful settlement of the border issue between the two countries. Niger's ministers of interior and national defense also attended the meeting. ¶2. The two nations share a 628-kilometer border, with just 22 posts demarcating the border; the two seek the ICJ's assistance in determining the proper placement of an additional 21 posts. The parties agreed to accept the ruling of the ICJ, and to cooperate in further demarcating the border thereafter. ¶3. Comment: On July 12, 2005, the ICJ rendered its verdict concerning the border case between Niger and Benin, known as the Lete Island case. The Court ruled that 16 islands, including Lete and the bridge between Gaya and Malanville, belonged to Niger, while nine other islands should be part of Benin. Both parties welcomed the decision, and agreed to abide by it. They further expressed satisfaction over the peaceful resolution of the conflict. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED ALLEN