The island of San Andres and the surrounding Caribbean archipelago belongs to Colombia, the International Court of Justice ruled Monday after Nicaragua had laid claim on the islands.
The The Hague-based court ruled in favor of Colombia after Nicaragua filed a lawsuit aiming to assume sovereignty over the islands.
The court’s decision was made based on the Colombia’s historically sovereignty over the seven islands that consist of the archipelago of San Andes and Providencia.
While Colombia will not lose sovereignty over its islands, the ICJ did rule that part of the waters previously under Colombian control will now fall under Nicaraguan territory.
The ruling by judge Peter Tomka ended an 11-year legal dispute between the two countries.
San Andres, a popular tourist destination for Colombians, lies some 150 miles east of Nicaragua and some 500 miles northwest of Colombia.
