28.07.11 Menas Borders
UN-backed Cameroon-Nigeria border commission urges swift resolution
UN Special Representative for West Africa Said Djinnit
The UN-backed Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, set up to help Cameroon and Nigeria resolve their border disputes has called
for “swift agreement” to resolve the remaining border disputes.
The Commission was set up at the request of the West African neighbours after
the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision on the ownership of the Bakassi Peninsula, in order to help
implement the decision.
It has already reached agreement on more than 1,600 kilometres of the border,
however it is still working on the final 350 kilometres of the land border
which
needs to be demarcated.
The most recent meeting of the Commission, which took place for two days in
Abuja last week, had planned to reach an agreement on the remaining 350
kilometres,
however it was not successful.
The Commission instruct its sub-commission on demarcation to find "effective and practical solutions" on the remaining areas, which include previous skipped areas, areas of
disagreement, and inaccessible areas.
In a press release at the end of the meeting on Friday 22nd July, Cameroon and
Nigeria reiterated their commitment to complete the demarcation by the end of
next year.
The commission, chaired by the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for
West Africa Said Djinnit also noted the progress made by the two nations regarding the
confidence-building initiatives for the populations affected by the demarcation.
A draft agreement was reached at the meeting however, on other issues such as
the exploitation of hydrocarbons on the border of Nigeria and Cameroon.
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan said on Tuesday 26th July that he would form a committee to consider the draft
agreement for ratification, after which the document would be signed by the
leaders of both countries.
Jonathan also said it was critical for the two countries to work together to
ensure security along the border.
The next session of the commission will be held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 8-9th
December.
Sources: Punch, The Nation, UN News Centre
Menas Borders worked on the 2002 ICJ court case. For more information on the
case, please see our case studies section, here.