414 Chapter 4
Participants: 411 Equatorial Guinea/368 Lithuania
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On November 10, 2000, troops from Equatorial Guinea seized the Rytas
and its crew of 38 near Fernando Poo (Boiko) for alleged illegal fishing. The Rytas
contained over 2,500 tons of frozen fish and more than 100 tons of fishmeal for a total
value in excess of one million dollars. Equatorial Guinea moved the ship to Malabo,
demanded a $1.3 million fine (which was later reduced to $500,000), and unloaded
and sold 250 tons of fish. In late November and early December the Vatican and the
United States applied diplomatic pressure on Equatorial Guinea to release the ship. A
member of the Spanish consulate in Equatorial Guinea also visited the ship and spoke
with its captain. On December 20, 2000, Equatorial Guinea released the Rytas from
custody.
404 Guinea-Bissau/433 Senegal
MID#3952
Dispute Number: 3952
Date(s): January 1, 1990 to May 29, 1990
Participants: 433 Senegal/404 Guinea-Bissau
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: Senegal and Guinea-Bissau had disputed their maritime border since Bis-
sau’s independence in 1973. The disputed waters were rich fishing grounds that also
potentially had petroleum deposits. On July 31, 1989, an arbitration tribunal awarded
the disputed territory to Senegal, but Guinea-Bissau contested the results. The fol-
lowing year Guinea-Bissau seized three ships on January 1, 1990. Then, on April 11,
Senegal returned the favor and seized the Orlenok CTM 8331, a Soviet trawler oper-
ating under the flag and license of Guinea-Bissau. Senegalese aircraft then violated
Guinea-Bissau’s airspace four separate times in April, and both states seized more
trawlers in the disputed area. On May 2, a Senegalese platoon entered Guinea-Bissau.
No clashes occurred, and the platoon left when a military official from Guinea-Bissau
requested they depart. However, on May 19, patrols from both countries clashed on
Guinean territory and several soldiers were killed; they clashed again three days later.
Finally, on May 23, Senegal and Guinea-Bissau agreed on a series of steps to solve
their dispute, and on May 29, they issued a joint communique that they would main-
tain their troops “a reasonable distance” from each other. Both countries also agreed to
establish regular contact between military and administrative officials. On March 12,
1991, Guinea-Bissau filed a new action with the International Court of Justice (ICJ);
however, both states agreed to stay the new case until the ICJ decided the validity of
the 1989 arbitral decision. On October 14, 1993, they signed an agreement to jointly