Equatorial Guinea – São Tomé and Príncipe Maritime Boundary Treaty
Encyclopedia
The Equatorial Guinea – São Tomé and Príncipe Maritime Boundary Treaty is a 1999 treaty
between Equatorial Guinea
and São Tomé and Príncipe
which delimits
the maritime boundary
between the two countries.
The treaty was signed in Malabo
on 26 June 1999. The boundary
set out by the text of the treaty consists of two separate parts. The first part of the boundary separates Equatorial Guinea's Annobón Island and São Tomé Island
. This portion of the boundary consists of four straight-line maritime
segments defined by five individual coordinate points. The boundary is an approximate equidistant line between the two islands.
The second part of the defined boundary separates Río Muni
(continental Equatorial Guinea) from Príncipe Island. This portion of the boundary is more complex, consisting of 14 straight-line segments defined by 15 individual coordinate points. Like the first part, this portion of the boundary is an approximate equidistant line between the two countries.
The treaty provisionally came into force immediately upon signature. It has not yet been ratified
by the countries, in which case it will become "definitively" in force. The full name of the treaty is Treaty Regarding the Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary between the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
between Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
and São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...
which delimits
Boundary delimitation
Boundary delimitation, or simply delimitation, is the term used to describe the drawing of boundaries, but is most often used to describe the drawing of electoral boundaries, specifically those of precincts, states, counties or other municipalities...
the maritime boundary
Maritime boundary
Maritime boundary is a conceptual means of division of the water surface of the planet into maritime areas that are defined through surrounding physical geography or by human geography. As such it usually includes areas of exclusive national rights over the mineral and biological resources,...
between the two countries.
The treaty was signed in Malabo
Malabo
Malabo is the capital of Equatorial Guinea, located on the northern coast of Bioko Island on the rim of a sunken volcano....
on 26 June 1999. The boundary
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
set out by the text of the treaty consists of two separate parts. The first part of the boundary separates Equatorial Guinea's Annobón Island and São Tomé Island
São Tomé Island
São Tomé Island, at , is the largest island of São Tomé and Príncipe and is home in 2009 to about 157,000 or 96% of the nation's population. This island and smaller nearby islets make up São Tomé Province, which is divided into six districts. The main island is located 2 km north of the...
. This portion of the boundary consists of four straight-line maritime
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
segments defined by five individual coordinate points. The boundary is an approximate equidistant line between the two islands.
The second part of the defined boundary separates Río Muni
Río Muni
Río Muni is the Continental Region of Equatorial Guinea, and comprises the mainland geographical region, covering 26,017 km².-History:Río Muni was ceded by Portugal to Spain in 1778 in the Treaty of El Pardo...
(continental Equatorial Guinea) from Príncipe Island. This portion of the boundary is more complex, consisting of 14 straight-line segments defined by 15 individual coordinate points. Like the first part, this portion of the boundary is an approximate equidistant line between the two countries.
The treaty provisionally came into force immediately upon signature. It has not yet been ratified
Ratification
Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal. The term applies to private contract law, international treaties, and constitutionals in federations such as the United States and Canada.- Private law :In contract law, the...
by the countries, in which case it will become "definitively" in force. The full name of the treaty is Treaty Regarding the Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary between the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.