United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland v. Albania (1949)

This case also known as Corfu Channel case, is a landmark dispute in international law, arose from mine explosions damaging British warships in Albanian waters in 1946.
It led to three significant judgments by the International Court of Justice.

In 1946, British warships were damaged by mine explosions while passing through the Corfu Channel in Albanian waters.
The United Kingdom accused Albania of laying mines or allowing a third party to do so.
The case was initially brought before the UN Security Council, which recommended referring it to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The UK filed an application with the ICJ on 22nd May 1947.
Albania submitted a counter-claim accusing the UK of violating its sovereignty.

Jurisdiction and Admissibility (25th March 1948 Judgment):
- Albania's communication on 2nd July 1947, constituted voluntary acceptance of the Court's jurisdiction.
- Consent to jurisdiction is not subject to specific formal requirements.
Merits of the Dispute (9th April 1949 Judgment):
- Albania was held responsible under international law for the explosions and resulting damages.
- The Court did not find evidence that Albania itself laid the mines or colluded with Yugoslavia to do so.
- The mines could not have been laid without Albania's knowledge, based on circumstantial evidence.
- The Court recognized the validity of circumstantial evidence in cases where direct proof is impossible due to a state's exclusive control within its borders.
- The UK's passage through the Corfu Channel was deemed an exercise of innocent passage through international straits.
- The notion of "self-help" was not accepted as justification for the UK's intervention.
Reparations (15th December 1949 Judgment):
- Albania was ordered to pay £844,000 in reparations to the UK.

The Court rejected the UK's minesweeping operation as a violation of Albanian sovereignty.