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World Court Digest

III. The International Court of Justice
1. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
1.4. Political Questions/
Determination of the Existence of a Dispute

¤ Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 11 June 1998
in the Case concerning the Land and Maritime Boundary
between Cameroon and Nigeria (Cameroon v. Nigeria),
Preliminary Objections (Nigeria v. Cameroon),
Judgment of 25 March 1999
I.C.J. Reports 1999, p. 31

[p. 60 D.O. Ajibola] Furthermore, I believe that the ordinary interpretation of the word "dispute" in Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the Court relates only to pre-existing disputes or incidents that occurred before the filing of an application, but definitely not to a future dispute. Apart from the illogicality of such an interpretation, its consequences could unduly and unnecessarily prolong pleadings before the Court and delay a speedy settlement of cases.