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afrol News, 6 September - Following a meeting in Paris yesterday with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the leaders of Cameroon and Nigeria have agreed to abide by a decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on a border dispute between the two countries and to restore their friendly relations. According to a statement issued by a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and President Paul Biya of Cameroon had met in Mr Annan's presence to discuss the disputed Bakassi Peninsula, as well as other issues of interest. In 1994, Cameroon asked the ICJ to rule on a dispute "relat[ing] essentially to the question of sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula," which it claimed was in part under military occupation by Nigeria, and to determine the maritime boundary between the countries. The peninsula and the disputed waters off its coast are potentially rich in oil and gas. Later that year, Yaoundé extended the case to a further dispute relating to "the question of sovereignty over a part of the territory of Cameroon in the area of Lake Chad," which it claimed was also occupied by Nigeria. The Nigerian government was outraged by Cameroon's sudden complaint to the international court. Cameroon, in a surprise move, joined the court and filed the Bakassi complaint while bilateral border negotiations were ongoing. The procedure soured relations between Abuja and Yaoundé. Neighbouring countries, scared by Cameroon's spectre of claims, have sought to assist Nigeria.
In the meeting between Obasanjo and Biya today, both Presidents however agreed to respect and implement the pending ICJ decision, establish an implementation mechanism, with UN support, and resume ministerial-level meetings of the Joint Commission on 30 September in Abuja, according to the statement. The Presidents of Cameroon and Nigeria also agreed on the need for confidence-building measures, including the eventual demilitarisation of the Bakassi peninsula, with the possibility of international observers to monitor the withdrawal of all troops. They further decided on an early visit to Nigeria by President Biya, and agreed to avoid inflammatory statements or declarations on the Bakassi issue. The UN statement said both leaders recognised that the matter must be seen in the wider context of the overall relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon, and expressed their determination to restore "the fraternal and neighbourly relations" that had existed between the two countries until recently. The two leaders had also discussed possibilities for economic cooperation, including joint ventures in the water and electricity sectors, Mr Annan's spokesman said. Sources: Based on UN sources and afrol archives
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