6 - Reclaiming the Bakassi Kingdom: The Anglophone Cameroon – Nigeria Border
Corresponding Author(s) : Molem Christopher Sama
Afrika Zamani,
No. 13-14 (2006): Afrika Zamani: An Annual Journal of African History
Abstract
The Bakassi Kingdom provides an excellent opportunity to examine the ques- tion of identity from the individual level to the community, state and external levels. On the one hand, this peninsula has become a continuous bone of con- tention between the Cameroonian and Nigerian states since soon after inde- pendence. Indigenes of the region have never accepted the existence of the colonial boundaries. Regular border skirmishes raised international attention in the 1990s when the two sides became involved in a protracted war over the sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula, an area rich in oil reserves. On the other hand, this border has never hindered the large-scale circulation of people and goods in the borderlands. This article will outline some of the underlying rea- sons for the frequent border disputes between the Cameroonian and Nigerian states since independence, culminating in the Bakassi Peninsula conflict in the 1990s, and then explore the impact on relations between the Anglophone Cameroonian and Nigerian resident populations using four distinct perspectives.
Keywords
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- Agreement between the Republic of Cameroon and the Federal Republic of Nigeria Concerning the Modalities of Withdrawal and Transfer of Authority in the Bakassi Peninsula (The Green Tree Agreement) [retrieved 11 April 2007 from http://www.un.org/unowa/. cnmc/preleas/cn_agreement.pdf].
- Akpan, Anietie, 2006, ‘Emotions, worries as Nigeria hands over Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun’, The Guardian [retrieved 1 April 2007 from http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/weekend/article01/180806].
- Asiwaju, A.I., ed., 1984, Partitioned Africans: Ethnic Relations across Africa’s International Boundaries, 1884–1984. Lagos: University of Lagos Press and London: C. Hurst & Co.
- Brownlie, Ian, 1979, African Boundaries, London: C. Hurst & Co., for the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
- Cross River State Youths Assembly, 2006, ‘Our Stand on Bakassi Peninsula’, letter to the editor, The Guardian [retrieved 1 April 2007 from http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/ letters/article01/060706].
- Eno-Abasi, Sunday, 2007, ‘Bakassi, A Relocation Gone Awry’, The Guardian, 2 April 2007. [retrieved 11 April 2008 from http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/focus_record/article01/020407].
- Fanso, V.G., 1986, ‘Traditional and Colonial African Boundaries: Concept and Functions in Inter-Group Relations’, Présence Africaine, 139, 3: 58–75.
- Follow up Committee for The Green Tree Agreement, Cameroon–Nigeria Mixed Commission Withdrawal and Transfer of Authority Form, 2006, http://www.spm.gov.cm/documents/doc_en397_transfert_autorite_bakassi_a.pdf
- IRIN (International Regional Information Networks): Cameroon–Nigeria, UNCHA. 2006, ‘Presidents Obasanjo and Biya shake hands on disputed Bakassi peninsula’, 13 June 2006 [retrieved 25 November 2006 from http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=59305].
- IRIN: Cameroon–Nigeria, UNCHA. 2006, ‘Bakassi inhabitants opt for independence ahead of Nigerian pullout’, 7 August 2006 [retrieved 25 November 2006 from http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=60045].
- IRIN: Cameroon–Nigeria, UNCHA. 2006, ‘CAMEROON–NIGERIA: Cameroon flag hoisted over Bakassi as Nigerian troops pull out’, 14 August 2006 [retrieved 25 November 2006 from http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=60324].
- IRIN: ‘Cameroon–Nigeria: Settling Bakassi – interview with UN envoy Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah’, 14 November 2007 [retrieved 11 April 2008 from http:// www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75306].
- IRIN:, UNCHA, 2007, ‘CAMEROON–NIGERIA: Bakassi – where Cameroon is already in control’, 20 November 2007 [retrieved 11 April 2008 from http://www.irinnews.org/PrintReport.aspx?ReportId=75395].
- International Court of Justice, Press Release 2002/26, Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria (Cameroon v Nigeria: Equatorial Guinea intervening).
- International Court of Justice, Statement of the President of the Court, 10 October 2002, [retrieved on 21 January 2007 from http://Bakassi/ispeechpresident_Guillaume_cnjudgment_20021010.htm].
- Konings, Piet, 2005, ‘The Anglophone Cameroon–Nigeria Boundary: Opportunities and Conflicts’, African Affairs, 104, 415:275–301.
- Lukong, Pius Nyuylime, 2008, ‘Swiss Company to Explore Oil in Iroko’, 4 April 2008 [retrieved on 11 April 2008 from http://www.cameroon-tribune.net/ article.php?lang=Fr&oled=j11042008&idart 9947&olar...].
- Lukong, Pius Nyuylime, 2008, ‘Douala/Kribi-Campo Basin: Over 15.7 billion for Oil Exploration in Matanda Cameroon signed’, 11 April 2008 [retrieved on 11 April 2008 from http://www.cameroon-tribune.net/article.php?lang=Fr&oled=j 11042008&idart=10161&ola...].
- Mbonwoh, Nkeze, 2008, ‘Government Grants More Assistance to Bakassi Inhabitants’, 7 April 2008 [retrieved on 11 April 2008 from http://www.cameroon- tribune.net/article.php?lang=Fr&oled=j11042008&idart=9988&olar..].
- Meagher, Kate, 1996, ‘Informal Integration or Economic Subversion? The Development and Organization of Parallel Trade in West Africa’, in R. Lavergne, ed., 1996, Regional Integration in West Africa. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Molem, Christopher Sama, 2004, ‘Cross-Border Conflict between Nigeria and Her Francophone Neighbors: Implications for Cross-Border Trade’, unpublished paper presented at the Association of African Political Scientists, June.
- Ngoh, Victor Julius, ed., 2004, Cameroon: From a Federal to a Unitary State. Limbe, Cameroon: Design House.
- Niger-Thomas, Margaret, 2001, ‘Women and the Arts of Smuggling’, African Studies Review, 44, 2, ‘Ways of Seeing: Beyond the New Nativism’: 43–70.
- Nwokedi, E., 1984–85, ‘The Politics of Inter-African Boundary Conflicts: A Study of Nigeria and her Francophone Neighbors’, The Quarterly Journal of Administration, 19, 1/2: 45–60.
- Orisakwe, Sunday, 2006, ‘No Permanent Peace in Bakassi Peninsula without Independent Southern Camerouns’ [retrieved on 1 April 2007 from The Guardian, http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/ life_style/ article07/250306].
References
Agreement between the Republic of Cameroon and the Federal Republic of Nigeria Concerning the Modalities of Withdrawal and Transfer of Authority in the Bakassi Peninsula (The Green Tree Agreement) [retrieved 11 April 2007 from http://www.un.org/unowa/. cnmc/preleas/cn_agreement.pdf].
Akpan, Anietie, 2006, ‘Emotions, worries as Nigeria hands over Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun’, The Guardian [retrieved 1 April 2007 from http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/weekend/article01/180806].
Asiwaju, A.I., ed., 1984, Partitioned Africans: Ethnic Relations across Africa’s International Boundaries, 1884–1984. Lagos: University of Lagos Press and London: C. Hurst & Co.
Brownlie, Ian, 1979, African Boundaries, London: C. Hurst & Co., for the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
Cross River State Youths Assembly, 2006, ‘Our Stand on Bakassi Peninsula’, letter to the editor, The Guardian [retrieved 1 April 2007 from http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/ letters/article01/060706].
Eno-Abasi, Sunday, 2007, ‘Bakassi, A Relocation Gone Awry’, The Guardian, 2 April 2007. [retrieved 11 April 2008 from http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/focus_record/article01/020407].
Fanso, V.G., 1986, ‘Traditional and Colonial African Boundaries: Concept and Functions in Inter-Group Relations’, Présence Africaine, 139, 3: 58–75.
Follow up Committee for The Green Tree Agreement, Cameroon–Nigeria Mixed Commission Withdrawal and Transfer of Authority Form, 2006, http://www.spm.gov.cm/documents/doc_en397_transfert_autorite_bakassi_a.pdf
IRIN (International Regional Information Networks): Cameroon–Nigeria, UNCHA. 2006, ‘Presidents Obasanjo and Biya shake hands on disputed Bakassi peninsula’, 13 June 2006 [retrieved 25 November 2006 from http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=59305].
IRIN: Cameroon–Nigeria, UNCHA. 2006, ‘Bakassi inhabitants opt for independence ahead of Nigerian pullout’, 7 August 2006 [retrieved 25 November 2006 from http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=60045].
IRIN: Cameroon–Nigeria, UNCHA. 2006, ‘CAMEROON–NIGERIA: Cameroon flag hoisted over Bakassi as Nigerian troops pull out’, 14 August 2006 [retrieved 25 November 2006 from http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=60324].
IRIN: ‘Cameroon–Nigeria: Settling Bakassi – interview with UN envoy Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah’, 14 November 2007 [retrieved 11 April 2008 from http:// www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75306].
IRIN:, UNCHA, 2007, ‘CAMEROON–NIGERIA: Bakassi – where Cameroon is already in control’, 20 November 2007 [retrieved 11 April 2008 from http://www.irinnews.org/PrintReport.aspx?ReportId=75395].
International Court of Justice, Press Release 2002/26, Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria (Cameroon v Nigeria: Equatorial Guinea intervening).
International Court of Justice, Statement of the President of the Court, 10 October 2002, [retrieved on 21 January 2007 from http://Bakassi/ispeechpresident_Guillaume_cnjudgment_20021010.htm].
Konings, Piet, 2005, ‘The Anglophone Cameroon–Nigeria Boundary: Opportunities and Conflicts’, African Affairs, 104, 415:275–301.
Lukong, Pius Nyuylime, 2008, ‘Swiss Company to Explore Oil in Iroko’, 4 April 2008 [retrieved on 11 April 2008 from http://www.cameroon-tribune.net/ article.php?lang=Fr&oled=j11042008&idart 9947&olar...].
Lukong, Pius Nyuylime, 2008, ‘Douala/Kribi-Campo Basin: Over 15.7 billion for Oil Exploration in Matanda Cameroon signed’, 11 April 2008 [retrieved on 11 April 2008 from http://www.cameroon-tribune.net/article.php?lang=Fr&oled=j 11042008&idart=10161&ola...].
Mbonwoh, Nkeze, 2008, ‘Government Grants More Assistance to Bakassi Inhabitants’, 7 April 2008 [retrieved on 11 April 2008 from http://www.cameroon- tribune.net/article.php?lang=Fr&oled=j11042008&idart=9988&olar..].
Meagher, Kate, 1996, ‘Informal Integration or Economic Subversion? The Development and Organization of Parallel Trade in West Africa’, in R. Lavergne, ed., 1996, Regional Integration in West Africa. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Molem, Christopher Sama, 2004, ‘Cross-Border Conflict between Nigeria and Her Francophone Neighbors: Implications for Cross-Border Trade’, unpublished paper presented at the Association of African Political Scientists, June.
Ngoh, Victor Julius, ed., 2004, Cameroon: From a Federal to a Unitary State. Limbe, Cameroon: Design House.
Niger-Thomas, Margaret, 2001, ‘Women and the Arts of Smuggling’, African Studies Review, 44, 2, ‘Ways of Seeing: Beyond the New Nativism’: 43–70.
Nwokedi, E., 1984–85, ‘The Politics of Inter-African Boundary Conflicts: A Study of Nigeria and her Francophone Neighbors’, The Quarterly Journal of Administration, 19, 1/2: 45–60.
Orisakwe, Sunday, 2006, ‘No Permanent Peace in Bakassi Peninsula without Independent Southern Camerouns’ [retrieved on 1 April 2007 from The Guardian, http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/ life_style/ article07/250306].