Verdict expected later this year

The International Court of Justice in The Hague said last Friday it would announce a verdict on the case of the Kasikili/Sedudu islands before the end of the year. The court said in a statement: “The Court’s judgment will be delivered in the autumn. It will be read at a public hearing on a date to be announced in a forthcoming press release.” The case between Namibia and Botswana which started on 15 February came to an end on Friday. The court had been asked by the two countries to settle a territorial dispute over the boundary of the Kasikili/Sedudu islands and the legal status of the islands, which are situated in the Caprivi Strip on the Chobe river. Namibia and Botswana have both said they would accept the ruling of the international court as being binding.