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An Analysis Of Nigeria – Cameroon Relations (1990 – 2007)
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Conscious
that the river might change its course article 19 stated that: should
the thalweg of the lower Akwa-Yafe, upstream from the line Bakassi
point, change its position in such a way as to affect the relative
positions of the thalweg and the mangrove islands, a new adjustment of
the boundary shall be made on the bases of the new positions as
determined by a map to be made for this purpose. By establishing the
thalweg of the Akpa-Yafe as the new maritime boundary between the two
colonies, article 18 and 27-29 placed the Bakassi peninsula under German
jurisdiction. However, there was uncertainty over the ownership of the
peninsula should be lower course of the Akpa-Yafe River change.16
This
ambiguity was addressed by article 20, which stipulated that: should
the lower course of the Akpe-Yafe so change its mouth as to transfer its
waters to the Rio-del-Rey, it is agreed that the area now known as the
Bakassi peninsula shall still remain German territory. The same
condition applies to any portion of the territory now agreed to is being
British, which may be cut off in a similar way.
Article 21 further
clarified the definition of the maritime boundary by stating that: from
the centre of the navigable channel on a line joining Bakassi point and
king point: the boundary shall follow the centre of the navigable
channel of the Akpa-Yafe River as far as a three-mile limit of
territorial jurisdiction. For the purposes of defining the boundary, the
navigable channel of the Akpa-Yafe River shall be considered to lie
whooly to the East of the navigable channels of the Cross and Calabar
River.17
Article 23 provided for free navigation between the open sea
and the Akpa-Yafe, while article 25 gave Britain the right to develop
the navigable channels of the Cross and Calabar Rivers from a three-mile
limit landward. Article 36, on the other hand, protected the fishing
rights of the native populations on the Bakassi Peninsula without
however, diminishing German jurisdiction over the Peninsula.
More
importantly, the nationality of the border populations as affected by
these boundary adjustments was addressed by article 27, which stipulated
that: it is agreed that within six months form the data of marking the
boundary, natives living near the boundary line may if they so desire,
cross over to live on the other side, and may take with them their
portable property and harvesting crops.
This was the state of the
Cameroon-Nigeria – a border when World War I broke out in 1914. Despite
the apparently detailed nature of the Anglo-German treaty of 1913, the
border was still ill-defined, which made the agreement difficult to
implement. Arguably, the origins of the Cameroon-Nigeria border question
could be traced back to the failure of the British and the Germans (who
first colonized the area) to create a well defined and conflict free
boundary. Following the war, the Cameroons were taken over by the
British and the French. This led to new boundary arrangements between
Cameroon and Nigeria.
THE ANGLO-FRENCH BORDER ARRANGEMENT
After
Germany’s defeat, Lancelot Oliphant and George’s picot, representing the
British and French Governments respectively, partitioned the former
German Cameroon in February 1916, with France claiming four fifths and
the British barely one fifth of the territory. This arrangement was
formalized in March 1916 in what became known as the picots partition.
Meanwhile on 17 March 1916, General Dobell “unilaterally†issued
proclamation No. 10 that determined the boundary between the British and
the French zones. On 10thJuly 1919 the British security of state for
colonies, Lord Alfred Milner, and the French Minister of Colonies, Henry
Simon, signed an agreement that essentially confirmed the accord of 4th
March 1916. And in 1922 the League of Nations accepted the Anglo-French
arrangement over former German Cameroon.
The various Anglo-French
accords from 1916 to 1919 did not alter the Cameroon-Nigeria border as
laid down in the 1913 Anglo-German treaty, especially in respect of the
maritime portions. Border discussion between London and Paris from 1919
to 1960 were largely limited to tiding the partition line between the
British and French Cameroons. As regards the British Colony of Nigeria
and British Cameroon, a kind of “no boundary mentality,†prevailed for
much of this period. This was especially so as the British for the
purposes of administrative convenience administered their portion of the
Cameroon as an appendage to eastern Nigeria.
In the minds of the
British, Southern Cameroon was ethnologically part of the eastern region
of Nigeria. And, to borrow from Adener, “the British acquired Southern
Cameroon in order to extend the Eastern Nigeria boundary Eastwards, and
in the process, fill the missing links of Eastern Nigeria. However, the
plebiscite in the British Cameroons on 11 February 1961 revived the
importance of ascertaining the Cameroon-Nigeria border, it brought about
the first major change in the boundary line between Cameroon and
Nigeria since the 1913 agreement. While the northern portion of British
Cameroons became an integral part of the independent Federal Republic of
Nigeria, the Southern part was reunited with the French speaking parts,
however this did not affect the coastal boundary line between Nigeria
and Cameroon Treaty of 1913.18
POST-INDEPENDENCE BOUNDARY ARRANGEMENT (1961-75)
Although
Cameroon and Nigeria subscribed to the principle of the inviolability
of colonially inherited boundaries, as prescribed by departing colonial
powers and formalised in the OAU Charter, the governments of the two
contiguous states were aware that their border constituted a potent seed
of discord, especially in the aftermath of the controversial plebiscite
in southern Cameroon in 1961. To forestall any dispute, a joint
Cameroon-Nigerian border commission was created in 1965, shortly after
independence. However, the commission had hardly begun its work when the
Nigerian civil war broke out in 1966. It resumed its activities after
the war, arriving at a number of landmark declarations on the border
question.19
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The aims and objectives of this project work are listed as follows:
To analyze Nigeria – Cameroon relations under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration;
To examine the International Court of Justice judgement and its impact on Nigeria – Cameroon relations;
To examine issues that led to the settling up of a joint commission between Nigeria and Cameroon;
To examine the impact of the 1913 Anglo-German Agreement on Nigeria and Cameroon; and
To make appropriate recommendations in which Nigeria – Cameroon relations could be improved.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This
research work will be limited to the issue of the Nigerian foreign
policy towards Cameroon. For a time frame, I will be locating my
research on from 1999 to 2007. In other to achieve an objective,
unbiased and an elaborate analysis, this research limits it indepth
analysis of the Nigerian foreign policy towards Cameroon.
METHODOLOGY
By
the nature of this study, the historical and descriptive analytical
approach will be used. Emphasis would be placed on the use of secondary
source, not for the fact that primary source is not important in this
study. The use of historical approach is predicated on the grounds that
the very nature of this study makes it indispensible for a historical
investigation into the evolution of the Nigeria – Cameroon relations
while recognizing the importance of historicity every modest attempt
will be made to be descriptive. Such secondary sources will however
include the following:
The Internet
Articles
Journals
Documents
Reports
Books etc.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The major significance of this study is that it will examine and highlight Nigeria – Cameroon Relations from 1999 to 2004. It will also suggest how areas of conflict could be resolved by both countries. This project research also hopes to contribute to the academic literature on Nigeria’s foreign policy through coverage of a turbulent period in Nigeria – Cameroon history.Following the judgement by the International Court of Justice that ceded 33 Nigerian villages around Lake ... Continue reading---
