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Corisco

Corisco is a small island of approximately 14 square kilometers (5 square miles) in the Gulf of Guinea, administratively part of the Litoral province of Equatorial Guinea and located about 29 kilometers (18 miles) southwest of the Río Muni estuary that marks the mainland border with Gabon.^[1]^[2] The island, known locally as Mandji or Mandyi, features low-lying terrain with a highest elevation of 35 meters (115 feet) and has been inhabited by the Benga people, with archaeological sites including a cemetery dating to around 2,000 years ago indicating early Iron Age settlement.^[3]^[4] Formerly part of Spanish Guinea, Corisco gained independence with Equatorial Guinea in 1968 and remains sparsely populated, primarily serving administrative and potential strategic roles due to its position in Corisco Bay.^[3] Sovereignty over Corisco and nearby islets such as Mbañé, Conga, and Cocotiers has been contested by Gabon since the 1970s, but the International Court of Justice ruled on May 19, 2025, affirming Equatorial Guinea's title based on the 1900 Franco-Spanish convention and rejecting Gabon's claims.^[5]^[6] The island's isolation and natural features, including white-sand beaches, contribute to its limited development, though it hosts remnants of colonial-era structures and supports small-scale fishing communities.^[4]

Geography

Location and Physical Characteristics

Corisco is a small island located in the Gulf of Guinea, forming part of the Corisco Archipelago and belonging to the Litoral Province of Equatorial Guinea. It lies in Corisco Bay, approximately 44 kilometers southwest of Mbini (formerly Cogo), the closest mainland point in the Río Muni region. The island's geographic coordinates are roughly 0°55′N 9°19′E, positioning it about 100 kilometers northwest of Libreville, Gabon.^[7]^[8] The island measures approximately 14 square kilometers in area, with a length of 6 kilometers and a width of 5 kilometers. Its coastline extends for about 19 kilometers. Corisco exhibits a low-relief topography, characterized by flat terrain, sandy beaches fringed with palms, and patches of tropical vegetation.^[9]^[1] Elevations on Corisco are minimal, with a mean height around 5-18 meters and the highest point reaching up to 35 meters above sea level. The airport on the island sits at an elevation of 17 meters, underscoring the generally level landscape suitable for aviation infrastructure. This physical configuration contributes to its isolation and limited development.^[1]^[9]

Climate and Biodiversity

Corisco exhibits an equatorial climate typical of coastal regions in Equatorial Guinea, marked by consistently high temperatures averaging 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) year-round, elevated humidity levels often exceeding 80%, and substantial annual rainfall surpassing 2,000 mm.^[1]^[4] A brief dry season occurs from November to March, reducing precipitation but maintaining warmth and occasional showers, while the remainder of the year features frequent heavy rains and overcast conditions.^[10] Weather patterns in nearby Bata, approximately 120 km distant, serve as a proxy, recording average highs of 30 °C and lows of 24 °C with minimal seasonal variation. Biodiversity on Corisco centers on its marine ecosystems, with coral reefs hosting fish species and invertebrate fauna uncommon in broader Central African waters.^[11] Corisco Bay functions as a critical habitat for sea turtles, providing feeding grounds and nesting sites for four species: green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea).^[12] These reefs and bays support diverse pelagic and reef-associated fish populations, contributing to the region's ecological richness despite limited terrestrial extent.^[1] Terrestrial biodiversity remains underdocumented due to the island's small size (approximately 14 km²) and human settlement, but includes tropical coastal vegetation such as mangroves and scrub, alongside avian species adapted to island environments.^[1] Conservation efforts are constrained by isolation and development pressures, with marine protected areas in the bay aiding turtle populations through nesting protections.^[12] Overall, Corisco's ecosystems reflect the Gulf of Guinea's tropical marine diversity, though comprehensive surveys are sparse compared to mainland Equatorial Guinea.^[13]

History

Pre-Colonial Era

Archaeological surveys on Corisco Island, locally known as Mandji, have revealed evidence of Early Iron Age occupation, including three burial sites discovered in 2009. These sites contained intact tombs with iron artifacts such as axes, spears, anklets, bracelets, and pottery sherds, radiocarbon dated to 410–640 CE.^[14] The findings align with the Oveng phase (1st–6th centuries CE) of Early Iron Age cultures in Equatorial Africa, exhibiting similarities to burial practices in adjacent Cameroon, including structured funerary rituals and iron corrosion preserving bone fragments.^[14] Additional analysis of 22 radiocarbon dates from various sites on the island indicates settlement activity spanning the 1st to 12th centuries CE, associated with the Nandá ceramic tradition and iron-working societies.^[15] Artifacts point to communities engaged in metallurgy, pottery production, and possibly subsistence activities suited to the island's coastal environment, though population densities remained low due to the island's small size (approximately 18 km²). Lithic tools suggest earlier Late Stone Age frequentation, but Iron Age evidence dominates, reflecting technological adoption during Bantu expansions into West Central Africa.^[15] The primary pre-colonial inhabitants were Bantu-speaking groups, particularly the Benga, a coastal subgroup of the Ndowe peoples who migrated to the Corisco Bay region during broader Bantu movements from the 12th to 13th centuries onward.^[16] These communities relied on fishing, maritime navigation, and limited agriculture, with the island serving as a peripheral outpost rather than a major political center. No records of large-scale conflicts or centralized authority exist prior to European arrival, consistent with the archipelago's role in regional exchange networks.^[3]

Colonial Administration

Spain established formal control over Corisco Island through a peaceful occupation in 1843, when Captain Juan José de Lerena issued a Declaration of Sovereignty on March 16 and official annexation documents were prepared the following day for Corisco and its dependencies, including the Elobey islands.^[17] On March 17, 1843, as part of this administration, Spain appointed local ruler King Baldomero Boncoro as Pilot and Chief of Corisco Bay, integrating indigenous leadership into colonial governance.^[17] This marked the beginning of continuous Spanish sovereignty, reinforced by a 1846 record signed by King I. Orejeck, which recognized Spanish authority and granted citizenship to inhabitants.^[17] Corisco was administered as part of the Spanish colony of Elobey, Annobón, and Corisco, with oversight from the Governor-General of Fernando Po (present-day Bioko), whose capital at Santa Isabel served as the administrative hub.^[18] Local management fell under the Sub-Governor of Elobey, who handled day-to-day affairs, including security via a Colonial Guard stationed on nearby Mbañe island from 1908 onward.^[17] Spanish possession was reaffirmed in 1858 by Governor Carlos Chacón and internationally validated through the 1900 Franco-Spanish Convention, which explicitly recognized Spain's title to Corisco and its dependencies while resolving continental border issues.^[17]^[18] Administration remained minimal throughout the colonial era, prioritizing sovereignty maintenance over economic development, with Corisco treated as a peripheral territory focused on basic oversight rather than large-scale settlement or infrastructure.^[19] In 1926, Elobey, Annobón, and Corisco were unified with Fernando Po and Rio Muni to form the single colony of Spanish Guinea, streamlining governance under a centralized Governor-General while retaining local administrative elements.^[19] Spain exercised ongoing control through territorial demarcations, such as the 1961 definition by the Governor-General of Spanish Guinea encompassing Corisco and adjacent islets like Mbañe, Leva, and Hoko, until independence on October 12, 1968, when title transferred to the new state of Equatorial Guinea.^[17]

Path to Independence and Early Post-Colonial Period

The path to independence for Corisco followed the broader decolonization process of Spanish Guinea, of which it formed a constituent part as one of the Corisco Bay Islands administered under Spanish colonial rule. In August 1968, a referendum on a new constitution was held across Spanish Guinea, including its insular territories, with over 63% of voters approving the framework that enabled transition to self-governance.^[20] General elections followed on September 22, 1968, resulting in the victory of Francisco Macías Nguema as president and the formation of a national assembly.^[21] Independence from Spain was formally granted on October 12, 1968, with Corisco and its dependencies—such as the islets of Mbañe, Leva, and Hoko—integrated into the newly established Republic of Equatorial Guinea, inheriting Spain's legal title over the islands.^[17]^[22] In the early post-colonial period, Corisco remained under the central administration of Equatorial Guinea, grouped with the continental region of Río Muni and other offshore islands.^[23] Macías Nguema's regime, which consolidated power immediately after independence, devolved into autocracy, with the president declaring himself "president for life" in 1972 and overseeing widespread political repression, economic mismanagement, and the erosion of institutions across the country.^[24] This national turmoil, characterized by terror against perceived opponents and a collapse in social structures, extended to peripheral areas like the Corisco Bay Islands, though the archipelago's small, remote population limited detailed records of localized impacts.^[25] Macías's rule persisted until his overthrow in a 1979 coup led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, marking the end of the initial post-independence era.^[24]

Sovereignty and Territorial Disputes

Historical Claims and Border Ambiguities

The historical claims to Corisco Island originated in the mid-19th century, when Spain incorporated it into its Guinean possessions as part of efforts to secure coastal territories in the Gulf of Guinea. Spanish administration treated Corisco as a dependency of Río Muni, with documented occupation and settlement activities reinforcing its status within Spanish Guinea.^[17] France, administering the adjacent Gabon territory from the 1840s onward, initially focused on mainland claims but extended assertions into Corisco Bay amid broader colonial rivalries post-Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, which prompted boundary negotiations to avoid overlaps.^[17] Border ambiguities emerged primarily from imprecise delimitations in early agreements and the complex geography of Corisco Bay, including islets like the Elobeys. The Franco-Spanish Mixed Commission (1886-1891) sought to clarify frontiers but failed to produce a ratified map, leaving uncertainties over insular features and riverine boundaries in the Muni estuary.^[26] These gaps were partially addressed by the 1900 Franco-Spanish Convention signed in Paris, which fixed the land boundary along the Mbini River and explicitly assigned Corisco Island, Great and Little Elobey, and adjacent bays to Spanish jurisdiction while attributing continental territories east of the river to France.^[27] ^[28] Nonetheless, interpretive disputes persisted regarding the convention's application to smaller offshore formations, such as those in Corisco Bay, due to vague phrasing on "dependencies" and varying administrative practices by the colonial powers.^[17] Further ambiguities arose from unratified proposals and local treaties, including the so-called Bata Convention referenced in Gabonese claims, which purportedly adjusted insular sovereignties but lacked clear archival corroboration or mutual recognition under international law.^[28] Spanish legal acts, such as decrees integrating Corisco into the Guinea administrative district by 1926, contrasted with French maps occasionally depicting ambiguous zones, fostering post-colonial contentions over effective control.^[17] These historical uncertainties, rooted in colonial-era documentation gaps rather than outright contradictions, set the stage for enduring territorial questions upon independence in 1968, as both successor states invoked uti possidetis juris to inherit the flawed boundaries.^[17]

Modern Dispute with Gabon

The modern phase of the territorial dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon over islets in Corisco Bay escalated on August 23, 1972, when Gabonese forces, under orders from President Omar Bongo, seized Mbanié Island (also known as Mbañé), ejecting Equatorial Guinean troops following reports of an incursion by the latter.^[29] ^[30] Gabon extended its control to the nearby uninhabited islets of Cocotiers (Cocoteros) and Conga, establishing a military garrison on Mbanié and administering the group as Gabonese territory, despite their location 5 to 6 kilometers from the mainland and within the bay enclosing the undisputed Corisco Island.^[17] This occupation, which persisted for over five decades, formed the basis of Gabon's claim to effectivités—demonstrated administrative control—while Equatorial Guinea protested the action as a violation of post-colonial boundaries inherited from the 1900 Franco-Spanish Convention, which delimited Spanish possessions (predecessor to Equatorial Guinea) to include all Corisco Bay islands.^[28] Diplomatic tensions recurred through the 1970s and 1980s, with Equatorial Guinea lodging formal objections and referencing the colonial uti possidetis principle, under which independence-era borders preserved pre-existing lines to prevent African instability, whereas Gabon invoked a purported 1974 Bata Convention as evidence of mutual recognition of its sovereignty over the islets.^[27] Bilateral talks yielded no resolution, and the dispute gained renewed attention in the early 2000s amid growing interest in Gulf of Guinea hydrocarbons, as the islets' sovereignty influenced overlapping exclusive economic zones potentially rich in oil and gas reserves adjacent to Corisco Bay.^[31] In January 2004, the United Nations appointed a mediator to address the claims, focusing on the strategic value of the islands for maritime delimitation, but mediation failed to produce a settlement, leaving Gabon's de facto administration intact.^[32] The islets remained sparsely populated, with Gabon's presence limited to occasional patrols, while Equatorial Guinea restricted access and asserted symbolic authority through maps and diplomatic notes, highlighting the dispute's low-intensity but persistent nature.^[33] No major military clashes occurred post-1972, but the unresolved claims strained bilateral relations and complicated regional cooperation, including joint hydrocarbon exploration efforts in the broader Corisco Bay area.^[26] Gabon's assertions drew criticism from Equatorial Guinea for disregarding verifiable colonial cartography, such as Spanish surveys confirming the islets' inclusion in Río Muni's offshore possessions, underscoring a broader pattern of post-colonial African border ambiguities rooted in imprecise European delimitations rather than indigenous realities.^[17]

International Court of Justice Proceedings and 2025 Ruling

In 2016, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea signed a Special Agreement to submit their territorial and maritime dispute over islands in Corisco Bay—including Corisco, Mbanié, and Conga (also known as Cocotiers)—to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for resolution.^[5] The agreement was formally notified to the ICJ on March 5, 2021, instituting proceedings under the case title Land and Maritime Delimitation and Sovereignty over Islands (Gabon/Equatorial Guinea).^[5] Under the terms of the Special Agreement, the Court was tasked with first determining sovereignty over the disputed islands based on legal titles, treaties, and effectivités (displays of authority), and then, if necessary, delimiting the land and maritime boundaries.^[5] Equatorial Guinea filed its Memorial on October 29, 2021, asserting sovereignty derived from Spanish colonial titles under the 1885 Treaty of Berlin and subsequent Franco-Spanish conventions, including effective administration post-independence.^[5] Gabon submitted its Counter-Memorial on May 2, 2023, contesting those titles and claiming French colonial sovereignty over the islands, supported by alleged effectivités such as administrative acts and maps.^[28] Both parties exchanged replies and rejoinders by mid-2024, with Equatorial Guinea's Reply filed on February 2, 2024, and Gabon's Rejoinder on July 2, 2024.^[5] Public oral proceedings on the merits commenced on September 30, 2024, and concluded on October 11, 2024, featuring arguments from both sides on historical treaties like the 1900 Franco-German Declaration and post-colonial conduct.^[34] On May 19, 2025, the ICJ delivered its judgment, ruling by 14 votes to 1 that sovereignty over Corisco, Mbanié, and Conga belongs to Equatorial Guinea.^[35] The Court held that Spanish titles from the late 19th century, confirmed by the 1900 Franco-German Declaration, established Equatorial Guinea's legal claim, which Gabon failed to sufficiently rebut through its own effectivités or protests against Equatorial Guinea's administration.^[35] It rejected Gabon's arguments regarding the islands' attribution to French Gabon under colonial partitions, emphasizing the principle of uti possidetis juris for post-colonial boundaries and the lack of timely objection to Equatorial Guinea's control after 1960 independence.^[27] The decision was nearly unanimous, with only Judge ad hoc Mandiaye Niang dissenting; separate opinions addressed interpretive nuances, such as the binding nature of certain colonial instruments.^[35] While sovereignty was settled in Equatorial Guinea's favor, the Court deferred full maritime delimitation to potential future phases, noting the islands' role in exclusive economic zone projections.^[36]

Demographics

Population Composition

The population of Corisco Island is predominantly composed of the Benga ethnic group, a subgroup of the Ndowe peoples indigenous to the coastal regions of southern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and northern Gabon, who settled the island after its abandonment in the 18th century.^[37]^[38] The Benga traditionally specialize in fishing, sailing, and small-scale trade, reflecting their maritime adaptation to the island's environment.^[37] Recent estimates indicate a sparse population of approximately 300 residents as of 2019, down from higher figures such as 2,541 reported for the main settlement in 2005, attributable to economic migration that has prompted many Benga to relocate to mainland areas for better opportunities.^[39] This outflow has resulted in a demographic skewed toward adult males engaged in subsistence activities, with limited presence of other ethnic groups like the Fang, who dominate mainland Equatorial Guinea.^[37] The community remains ethnically homogeneous, with Spanish as the official language alongside the Benga language, and Christianity—particularly Presbyterianism—prevalent due to historical missionary influence.^[39]

Settlement Patterns and Migration

The Benga people, the primary inhabitants of Corisco, trace their settlement to the Bantu expansions originating from the interior of Central Africa, migrating toward coastal zones including the Gulf of Guinea archipelagos between approximately 2000 BCE and 1500 CE.^[3] These movements facilitated the establishment of enduring communities on offshore islands like Corisco, where groups adapted to marine resources through fishing and rudimentary coastal agriculture.^[3] Archaeological findings, including stone tools and Iron Age sites such as the Nandá settlement and associated burials, corroborate human presence extending back millennia, with radiocarbon dates confirming occupation patterns tied to these migratory waves.^[40]^[15] Settlement on the 16 km² island remains concentrated in small, dispersed coastal villages, reflecting its limited arable land and reliance on subsistence fishing rather than inland expansion.^[41] The Benga's coastal orientation, as part of the broader Playeros ethnic cluster, has historically minimized large-scale internal redistribution, with communities clustered near natural harbors for access to marine livelihoods.^[41] Intermarriage with neighboring Kombe groups from the mainland has introduced limited demographic mixing, particularly among women, sustaining genetic and cultural continuity without altering core settlement structures.^[41] Migration patterns post-Bantu era have been subdued, constrained by the island's isolation and territorial ambiguities with Gabon, resulting in negligible inflows from mainland Equatorial Guinea or beyond.^[41] Colonial-era displacements were minimal on Corisco compared to Bioko or [Río Muni](/page/Río Muni), with Spanish administration from the 19th century onward focusing on peripheral outposts rather than inducing mass relocations.^[42] Contemporary dynamics show stasis, as ongoing sovereignty disputes and sparse infrastructure deter modern settlement or return migration, preserving a low-density pattern dominated by indigenous Benga lineages.^[41]

Culture and Society

Benga Ethnic Group

The Benga are a small Bantu ethnic group indigenous to the coastal islands and mainland areas of southern Equatorial Guinea and northern Gabon, with their traditional homeland centered on Corisco Island, Elobey Grande, and surrounding regions in Corisco Bay. As one of the 14 Ndowe peoples, they have historically maintained a maritime-oriented lifestyle, specializing in fishing, navigation, and coastal trade that predates extensive European contact.^[37]^[38] Numbering approximately 6,900 in Equatorial Guinea as of recent estimates, the Benga population on Corisco itself has significantly declined due to economic migration to continental areas seeking better opportunities, leaving communities of a few hundred residents on the island by 2019. This exodus reflects broader challenges faced by island dwellers, including limited arable land and reliance on subsistence fishing amid national development disparities.^[37]^[39]^[43] The Benga speak Benga, a Bantu language closely related to Bubi spoken on Bioko Island, though Spanish dominates in official and educational contexts due to Equatorial Guinea's colonial history. Social organization emphasizes extended family networks and village-based governance, with cultural identity tied to oral traditions, boat-building craftsmanship, and seasonal fishing rituals that underscore their adaptation to insular environments.^[38]^[3] Despite assimilation pressures from the dominant Fang majority and national policies, the Benga preserve distinct practices such as communal net-fishing techniques and matrilineal kinship elements, fostering resilience in their island enclaves. Their early interactions with Portuguese and Spanish traders in the 15th–19th centuries positioned them as intermediaries in regional commerce, influencing linguistic borrowings and hybrid customs observed today.^[3]

Traditional Practices and Language

The Benga people of Corisco traditionally speak Benga, a Bantu language of the A10 group, with approximately 6,900 speakers in Equatorial Guinea as of recent estimates.^[37] This language features dialectal variations such as Bapuku and is closely related to other coastal Bantu tongues like Kombe, though it maintains distinct phonetic and grammatical structures documented in early linguistic grammars.^[44] Benga serves as a marker of ethnic identity, used in oral traditions including storytelling and chants, but its daily use has declined due to Spanish dominance and migration, with many speakers bilingual.^[38] Traditional practices among the Benga emphasize subsistence fishing and maritime activities, reflecting their identity as "Playeros" or beach people. Men construct dugout canoes from local woods and employ nets, harpoons, and traps for catching fish and shellfish in Corisco Bay, while women process catches by smoking or drying them for preservation and trade.^[3] These activities form the economic and social core, supplemented by small-scale agriculture of cassava and plantains, with gender-specific roles extending to household management and market vending by women. Community decisions occur through assemblies guided by clan elders or chiefs, fostering consensus on disputes, resource allocation, and voyages.^[3] Oral histories portray the Benga as skilled sailors and merchants who traded with European arrivals from the 15th century, alongside a reputation for warrior prowess in defending coastal territories.^[38] Cultural expressions include rhythmic drumming, chants, and dances mimicking ocean waves, performed during communal gatherings or to invoke prosperity in fishing yields.^[45] Pre-colonial beliefs centered on animism, with rituals honoring ancestral spirits and sea deities for protection during navigation and bountiful hauls; these involved offerings and incantations, though Protestant missionary influences from the 19th century introduced syncretic elements blending Christian and indigenous elements.^[3] Social structure organizes around patrilineal clans, where elders mediate marriages and inheritance, traditionally without formalized dowries but emphasizing alliance-building through inter-clan ties. Such practices have persisted despite depopulation of Corisco due to economic pressures, with remnants maintained by diaspora communities on the mainland.^[37]

Economy

Subsistence and Fishing-Based Activities

The inhabitants of Corisco, predominantly members of the Benga ethnic group, rely primarily on subsistence fishing for their livelihoods, supplemented by limited agriculture due to the island's small size, sandy terrain, and lack of extensive arable land.^[3] Fishing activities center on artisanal methods, with local fishers using traditional wooden pirogues to harvest coastal species in the nutrient-rich waters of Corisco Bay, including sardines, anchovies, and shellfish, which provide essential protein and support household food security. These practices remain non-commercial and geared toward self-sufficiency, reflecting the broader pattern of subsistence economies in Equatorial Guinea's insular regions where formal employment opportunities are scarce.^[46] Subsistence agriculture plays a secondary role, involving the cultivation of staple crops such as cassava, yams, and bananas on small plots, often intercropped with fishing-related activities like mangrove harvesting for fuel and building materials.^[3] The Benga traditionally divide labor by gender, with men focusing on sea-based fishing and women managing onshore processing, drying, and marketing of catches within local communities or to nearby mainland markets via infrequent boat transport.^[47] Despite national efforts to develop the fisheries sector for export and regional supply—aiming to leverage Equatorial Guinea's exclusive economic zone including the Bioko-Corisco area—Corisco's remote location and underdeveloped infrastructure have kept local activities confined to low-yield, traditional subsistence levels, with minimal integration into broader commercial fisheries. This reliance underscores vulnerabilities to seasonal weather fluctuations and overfishing pressures in shared bay waters, though no systematic data on annual catches or yields specific to the island exists in public records.^[46]

Resource Potential and National Integration

The waters surrounding Corisco Bay hold significant potential for offshore oil and gas exploration, with the resolution of the maritime dispute enabling access to previously contested acreage.^[48] Following the International Court of Justice's May 2025 ruling affirming Equatorial Guinea's sovereignty over Corisco and adjacent islands, the government has expressed intent to pursue new upstream developments in the area to counteract declining production elsewhere in its hydrocarbon sector.^[49]^[50] The island itself supports subsistence fishing, leveraging Equatorial Guinea's extensive exclusive economic zone rich in marine resources such as perch, shark, and crayfish, though commercial exploitation remains limited.^[51] Integration of Corisco's resources into Equatorial Guinea's national economy hinges on hydrocarbon revenues, which constitute the dominant share of GDP and fund broader development initiatives.^[52] The 2025 sovereignty confirmation removes prior barriers to unilateral exploration in Corisco Bay, potentially allowing the island's offshore fields to contribute directly to state coffers and infrastructure projects linking peripheral territories to the mainland.^[49] Fishing activities, while locally oriented, align with national efforts to diversify beyond oil dependency, though they currently represent a minor GDP component amid challenges in attracting investment for agro-industry expansion.^[53] Overall, resource development in Corisco serves to reinforce Equatorial Guinea's centralized extractive model, with limited evidence of decentralized benefits for island communities.

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[36]
Judgments - INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
May 19, 2025 · International Court of Justice, Land and Maritime Delimitation and Sovereignty over Islands (Gabon/Equatorial Guinea), Judgments, Judgment of 19 May 2025.
[37]
World Court backs Equatorial Guinea in islands dispute with Gabon
May 19, 2025 · Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Monday that Equatorial Guinea has a legal claim to a cluster of small islands in ...
[38]
Benga in Equatorial Guinea people group profile - Joshua Project
They are a peaceful and friendly group of coastal fishermen, sailors and merchants. For economic reasons the vast majority of the Benga left Corisco island.
[39]
The Benga people - Qiraat Africa
Mar 2, 2025 · By 1770, the Benga were noted to inhabit the island of Corisco, which had recently been uninhabited prior to their occupation due to over- ...Missing: colonial | Show results with:colonial
[40]
Spreading the word of God and Benga: the Presbyterian Church in ...
Corisco Bay is tucked into what was called “the Pongo” or “the Gaboon Coast,” which in the mid-nineteenth century extended from the Kamerun River, ...
[41]
New archaeological data on the ancient history of equatorial guinea
Aug 7, 2025 · Some discoveries of stone tools on the islands of Bioko, Corisco and Elobey suggest that they also settled there later.
[42]
Equatorial Guinea - Ethnic Groups, Bantu, Fang | Britannica
Oct 14, 2025 · Coastal groups, such as the Kombe, Mabea, Lengi, Benga, and others, have been in contact with European traders much longer, and a limited amount ...Missing: bay | Show results with:bay<|control11|><|separator|>
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Migration versus Stagnation in Equatorial Guinea: The Sea as ... - jstor
Only from 1858 on did the Spaniards settle progressively on annobon and Fernando Poo, as well as on the continental terri- tory between the Niger and the Ogoue ...
[44]
https://www.sorosoro.org/en/benga/
[45]
Benga - Sorosoro
The Benga people have mainly settled along the coast and are one of the few Bantu people to have an established coastal tradition. Status: no official status.
[46]
Benga (People) - Study Guide | StudyGuides.com
Where do the Benga people primarily inhabit? Islands of Corisco, Elobey Grande, and Elobey Chico, as well as mainland coastal areas near the Río Muni estuary.
[47]
[PDF] Equatorial Guinea - Fisheries Centre
The Playeros (Beach people, Spanish word used for the Ndowe ethnic group), practice fishing and subsistence agriculture as their main activities. The Bubi live ...Missing: Corisco | Show results with:Corisco
[48]
[PDF] MISSIONS ATLAS PROJECT AFRICA EQUATORIAL GUINEA
The men will often support their families through fishing or subsistence agriculture. ... The Benga people live around Rio Muni and on Corisco Island.
[49]
Equatorial Guinea: Oil and Gas - African Business
Feb 19, 2014 · The $1.6bn project is delivering 37,500 b/d of gas condensate from estimated reserves of 88m barrels of condensate and 930bn cubic feet of gas.
[50]
Equatorial Guinea looks to revive oil and gas plans after court victory
Jun 25, 2025 · Equatorial Guinea is eyeing up the potential for new offshore oil and gas developments, in the wake of a recent win at the International ...
[51]
Court favours Equatorial Guinea in dispute with Gabon | Upstream
May 20, 2025 · The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled in favour of Equatorial Guinea in a decades-old dispute with Gabon over the control of three tiny islands.
[52]
Equatorial Guinea - Profils des pêches et de l'aquaculture par pays
Feb 17, 2023 · Equatorial Guinea intends to develop the fishing industry to self-supply the domestic market. Also transform the country into a regional leader ...
[53]
Equatorial Guinea's oil and gas industry continues to shrink
May 6, 2024 · Equatorial Guinea faces an uncertain economic future as its shrinking oil and gas reserves no longer attract hydrocarbon industry investors.Missing: Corisco | Show results with:Corisco
[54]
Study offers tips for Equatorial Guinea's trade enhancement
Sep 9, 2020 · The country has a number of small-scale fishermen focused primarily on subsistence fishing, but there is very little information or data related ...