Regimes jurídicos dos espaços marítimos e suas controvérsias: um estudo acerca da disputa, pelo bloco 14, entre Angola e a República Democrática do Congo (RDC)

Abstract

This study addresses the maritime dispute between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with emphasis on the controversy regarding the delimitation of Block 14, located in the Gulf of Guinea, and the signing of the Agreement on Governance and Management of the Maritime Zone of Common Interest (ZIC), concluded in 2023. The research begins by contextualizing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), examining its normative foundations particularly Articles 74, 75, 83, and 279-which govern the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the Continental Shelf (CS) between States with adjacent or opposite coasts, as well as the obligation for the peaceful settlement of disputes. The study explores the legal, political, and geopolitical challenges inherent in the application of UNCLOS, highlighting the roles played by international judicial bodies such as the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in similar cases. Based on the analysis of the Angola-DRC case,| the dissertation demonstrates that the adopted solution--based on joint governance, equitable profit-sharing, and shared institutional management- represents an effective alternative to judicial litigation, contributing to regiotal stability and legal certainty. The study aims to determine whether this model of bilateral, flexible, and pragmatic cooperation, aligned with the principles of UNCLOS, can serve as a reference for other international mantime disputes, particularly in contexts marked by structural asymmetries and strategic interests in offshore natura, resources.