94 Chapter 2
Participants: 93 Nicaragua/91 Honduras
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Honduras claimed that Nicaraguan patrols shot at and detained Honduran
fishermen in the Gulf of Fonseca on January 9, 1997. Additional fishing-boat seizures
took place in April and May by naval patrols from both countries, and Nicaraguan
forces again seized Honduran fishermen in August. No further incidents were pro-
tested for at least six months.
MID#4140
Dispute Number: 4140
Date(s): December 1, 1999 to July 2000
Participants: 93 Nicaragua/91 Honduras
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: In November 1999 the Honduran Congress ratified an agreement with
Colombia that delimited their common border, but the agreement recognized
Colombia’s claim to areas claimed by Nicaragua. Nicaraguan forces went on alert
on December 1 and fortified their border two days later. On December 8 Nicaragua
requested that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) settle the border dispute. On
February 20, 2000, two Honduran naval vessels came within a mile of the Nicara-
guan coast and opened fire on Nicaraguan naval vessels. Nicaragua also accused
Honduras of placing troops on Cayo Sur, a disputed island in the Caribbean,
although a US military attaché denied that any troops were on the island. The Orga-
nization of American States named Ambassador Luigi Enaudi special envoy to ease
the border dispute. On March 16, 2001, Honduras and Nicaragua signed a verifica-
tion agreement thanks to his mediation, and on October 17, 2007, the ICJ ruled that
Honduras possessed sovereignty over the Bobel Cay, Savanna Cay, Port Royal Cay,
and South Cay.
Coding changes: Outcome changed from Unclear. Settlement changed from
None.
MID#4259
Dispute Number: 4259
Date(s): February 2001 to March 16, 2001
Participants: 91 Honduras/93 Nicaragua
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute stemmed from Nicaraguan fears over Honduran troop move-
ments across the border. In February 2001 Nicaragua protested the large increase in
the number of border posts, and then in March Nicaragua claimed that Honduran
forces were conducting military exercises without advance notices. Honduras rejected