LIBYA v.

CHAD
(ICJ Reports, 1994)

Facts:
Libya invades a useless parcel of land which turned out to have rich deposits of Uranium
(Aousou Strip) in the 1970s and claimed it as its own. Libya had its troops there, but Chad
claimed the land. Libya claimed that the border was never properly demarcated in the
1955 Treaty between Libya and France. Further, Libya argued that even if it were properly
demarcated, that Treaty was void because Chad was not a proper party and the Treaty was
only written to be in effect for 20 years only. On the other hand, Chad claims that the Strip
was demarcated as part of Chad in an older Treaty between Britain and France. The
countries went to the ICJ for an adjudication.
Issue:
Under whose jurisdiction does the Aouzou Strip fall under?

Held:
The Aouzou Strip fall under the jurisdiction of Chad. The ICJ found that the 1955 treaty
established the boundary, and that boundary remains even though the treaty was no
longer in force. It is a common principle in International Law that treaties that delineate
borders are considered to be permanent. Even if the countries change governments, the
border remains the same unless a new treaty moves the border.