On Monday 1st February 2021, French Ambassador Antoine Joly and Surinamese Ambassador John Harold Kolader concluded a document on which they agree on the delimitation of the common border formed by the Maroni and Lawa rivers. This agreement should now be signed by both governments before its final ratification by respective parliaments.
This is a historic step for both countries after many years of negotiations. This agreement gives a clear and digital delineation of the border alongside the upstream and middle parts of the transboundary river basin, from its mouth to Antecume Pata. Discussions focused on no less than 950 islands, making the implementation of field surveys possible and paving the way for a joint reflexion that resulted in a precise determination of the sovereignty that applies over each of these islands.
The region has a long diplomatic history (one particular episode is the Russian tsar arbitrage in 1891 that favoured the Lawa river as the physical delineation of the border), that had not resolved uncertainties concerning the nationality of these islands, especially on a stretch of the river between Stoelman and Antecume Pata islands. The frontier located upstream (at the south of this specific zone) remains under negotiations between France and Surinam.
The official signing of the agreement should enable the announcement of a Declaration on Transboundary Cooperation, boosting cross-borders exchanges. In the long-term, this would promote economic and social development, while securing the movement of goods and people. It will encourage tourism, promote the protection of an exceptional ecosystem and facilitate the cessation of illegal gold mining, announced by the two governments.
The BIO-PLATEAUX project welcomes this impressive step forward, calling for a reinforcement of the cooperation on water resources management between Suriname and French Guiana.
Picture credit CTG