Nicaragua: Simmering Sources of Unrest

LEGAL ISSUES AND SIMMERING SOURCES OF UNREST

NICARAGUA

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

Nicaragua has faced several legal issues in Central America. Among the many conflicts it faced over the past 100 years, land has always been the primary concern. Neighboring Honduras in the north, both countries have had a long history of legal affairs of land ownership to the point of pleading to international courts such as the International Court of Justice and the United Nations Security Council. Nicaragua’s altercation started when Honduras and Colombia signed the Caribbean Sea Maritime Limits Treaty in 1986. This treaty apportioned 12,000 miles of Caribbean Sea along the stretch of Central America from Honduras to Colombia. In 1999, Honduras ratified and legally pursued the completion of said concordance immediately opening a dispute between itself and Nicaragua. The argument, which still is being debated today, states that one of its islands known as Cayo Sur (South Cay) pertains to Nicaragua due to its geographical placement in Nicaraguan waters and not in Honduras. The latter country responded that the island has been apportioned to Honduras due to the signed treaty of 1986. This small cay is rich in fish and oil, both of which are benefactors to the Nicaraguan economy. Hence, its resolution from the Republic of Nicaragua is out of the question.

Moreover, Honduras advanced in displacing troops to the island and thus heightening tensions between both countries. Nicaragua did not respond with military action. A representative from the Organization of American States, Luigi Einaudi, successfully engaged both countries in signing a mutual agreement to ease tensions and promote confidence and security. A milestone step by the Nicaraguan government was to take the case up to the international stage to the International Court of Justice and on December 8, 1999, it submitted an application to the latter. A decision on this territorial ownership is still...