Djibouti asks ICJ to arbitrate investigation into death of French judge News
Djibouti asks ICJ to arbitrate investigation into death of French judge

[JURIST] The East African country of Djibouti [CIA backgrounder] has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) [official website] to settle a dispute [ICJ press release] over whether a French judge has the authority to summon high-level Djibouti witnesses to investigate the possible assassination of a French judge in 1995. Judge Bernard Borrel's death was originally ruled a suicide, but French investigators now claim he may have been murdered, and a French judge ordered Djibouti witnesses to be questioned. Djibouti contends that France has no right to call witnesses who should have diplomatic immunity and has accused France of violating 1977 and 1986 cooperation treaties between the two countries by not handing over information on the case. Before the international court can step in to arbitrate, France must agree to its jurisdiction over the matter. BBC News has more.

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