Joint Communiqué Establishing the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC)

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Country/entity: Cameroon
Nigeria
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Joint Communiqué Establishing the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC)
Date: 15 Nov 2002
Agreement status: Unilateral document
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/interstate conflict
Bakassi Territorial Dispute (1993 - 2006)
This conflict relates to the disputed Bakassi Peninsula territory in the Gulf of Guinea. After colonialisation, borders between Nigeria and Cameroon were arbitrarily drawn and Bakassi was granted to Cameroon even though many of the inhabitants feel an affinity to Nigeria. Nigeria claims the territory historically belongs to Nigerian tribes which inhabited the area pre-colonialisation and administered the peninsula from independence in 1960. Cameroon disputed this on the basis of maps dating back to colonial times. Troops either side of the border have occasionally escalated the dispute with incursions into respective territories and the subsequent retaliations have resulted in a number of military deaths. This came to a head in the early 1990s where troop blockades were built up on either side and relations were tense. In order to resolve this and avoid a war, Cameroon appealed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule on the border dispute. Sporadic clashes continued into the mid 1990s. In 2002, the ICJ ruled that Nigeria pull out its troops, officials and police confirming Cameroon sovereignty. Nigeria was slow to accept the ruling but eventually submitted to a Mixed Commission made up of representatives of both nations to consider the implications of the ICJ ruling. Transitional arrangements for Bakassi were to be completed by 2008 and in 2013, Cameroon took over full sovereignty.
Stage: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Territory
Peace process: Cameroon-Nigeria border peace process
Parties: The agreement is unsigned, however, the parties are listed as:
President Paul Biya of Cameroon
President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria
Third parties: The agreement is unsigned, however, the third parties are listed as:
Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Description: This agreement establishes the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission to consider ways to implement the decision of the ICJ on the delimitation of the Cameroon-Nigeria Maritime border.

Agreement document: CM_NG_021115_JointCommunique.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: Page 1, ..."The Secretary-General welcomed President Biya's and President Obasanjo's renewed commitment, as Heads of State of law-abiding countries, to renounce the use of force in their bilateral relations and pursue peaceful ways for the settlement of their boundary differences, as well as the constructive spirit which prevailed throughout the various meetings held during the day.

Page 1: ..."The mixed commission will consider all the implications of the decision, including the need to protect the rights of the affected populations in both countries. The commission shall, inter alia, be entrusted with the task of demarcating the land boundary between the two countries. It will also make recommendations on additional confidence-building measures such as the holding, on a regular basis, of meetings between local authorities, Government officials and Heads of State; developing projects to promote joint economic ventures and cross-border cooperation; the avoidance of inflammatory statements or declarations on Bakassi by either side; troop withdrawal from relevant areas along the land boundary; eventual demilitarization of the Bakassi Peninsula with the possibility of international personnel to observe withdrawal; and reactivation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
Cross-border provision: Page 1: ..."The mixed commission will consider all the implications of the decision, including the need to protect the rights of the affected populations in both countries. The commission shall, inter alia, be entrusted with the task of demarcating the land boundary between the two countries. It will also make recommendations on additional confidence-building measures such as the holding, on a regular basis, of meetings between local authorities, Government officials and Heads of State; developing projects to promote joint economic ventures and cross-border cooperation; the avoidance of inflammatory statements or declarations on Bakassi by either side; troop withdrawal from relevant areas along the land boundary; eventual demilitarization of the Bakassi Peninsula with the possibility of international personnel to observe withdrawal; and reactivation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 1: ..."The mixed commission will consider all the implications of the decision, including the need to protect the rights of the affected populations in both countries. The commission shall, inter alia, be entrusted with the task of demarcating the land boundary between the two countries. It will also make recommendations on additional confidence-building measures such as the holding, on a regular basis, of meetings between local authorities, Government officials and Heads of State; developing projects to promote joint economic ventures and cross-border cooperation; the avoidance of inflammatory statements or declarations on Bakassi by either side; troop withdrawal from relevant areas along the land boundary; eventual demilitarization of the Bakassi Peninsula with the possibility of international personnel to observe withdrawal; and reactivation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: Page 1: ..."At the invitation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, President Paul Biya of Cameroon and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria met today in Geneva in the Secretary-General's presence, to follow up on the ruling of 10 October of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In this connection, the two Presidents acknowledged the importance for their countries of respecting their obligations under the United Nations Charter.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1: ..."The mixed commission will consider all the implications of the decision, including the need to protect the rights of the affected populations in both countries. The commission shall, inter alia, be entrusted with the task of demarcating the land boundary between the two countries. It will also make recommendations on additional confidence-building measures such as the holding, on a regular basis, of meetings between local authorities, Government officials and Heads of State; developing projects to promote joint economic ventures and cross-border cooperation; the avoidance of inflammatory statements or declarations on Bakassi by either side; troop withdrawal from relevant areas along the land boundary; eventual demilitarization of the Bakassi Peninsula with the possibility of international personnel to observe withdrawal; and reactivation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1: ..."In addition, the two Presidents agreed on the need for a meeting between the two sides at Summit level at the earliest possible opportunity, to discuss defence and security issues of common concern.

Page 1: ..."The mixed commission will consider all the implications of the decision, including the need to protect the rights of the affected populations in both countries. The commission shall, inter alia, be entrusted with the task of demarcating the land boundary between the two countries. It will also make recommendations on additional confidence-building measures such as the holding, on a regular basis, of meetings between local authorities, Government officials and Heads of State; developing projects to promote joint economic ventures and cross-border cooperation; the avoidance of inflammatory statements or declarations on Bakassi by either side; troop withdrawal from relevant areas along the land boundary; eventual demilitarization of the Bakassi Peninsula with the possibility of international personnel to observe withdrawal; and reactivation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: Page 1: ..."The mixed commission will consider all the implications of the decision, including the need to protect the rights of the affected populations in both countries. The commission shall, inter alia, be entrusted with the task of demarcating the land boundary between the two countries. It will also make recommendations on additional confidence-building measures such as the holding, on a regular basis, of meetings between local authorities, Government officials and Heads of State; developing projects to promote joint economic ventures and cross-border cooperation; the avoidance of inflammatory statements or declarations on Bakassi by either side; troop withdrawal from relevant areas along the land boundary; eventual demilitarization of the Bakassi Peninsula with the possibility of international personnel to observe withdrawal; and reactivation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: [Summary: The agreement is in the form of a Statement by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan following his meeting with the Presidents of Cameroon and Nigeria in Geneva.]
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1: ..."The two Presidents further agreed to ask me to establish a mixed commission of the two sides, to be chaired by my Special Envoy, Ahmedou Ould-Adballah, to consider ways of following up the ICJ ruling and moving the process forward. The mixed commission will meet in Abuja and Yaoundé on an alternating basis. The first meeting will be held in Yaoundé on 1 December 2002.

Page 1: ..."The mixed commission will consider all the implications of the decision, including the need to protect the rights of the affected populations in both countries. The commission shall, inter alia, be entrusted with the task of demarcating the land boundary between the two countries. It will also make recommendations on additional confidence-building measures such as the holding, on a regular basis, of meetings between local authorities, Government officials and Heads of State; developing projects to promote joint economic ventures and cross-border cooperation; the avoidance of inflammatory statements or declarations on Bakassi by either side; troop withdrawal from relevant areas along the land boundary; eventual demilitarization of the Bakassi Peninsula with the possibility of international personnel to observe withdrawal; and reactivation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker: http://peacemaker.un.org/

Joint Communiqué Establishing the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission(CNMC) Geneva, 15 November 2002

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN FOLLOWING HIS GENEVA MEETING

WITH PRESIDENTS OF CAMEROON, NIGERIA

The following is the text of a communiqué which was read by the Secretary-General following his meetings in Geneva with President Paul Biya of Cameroon and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, on the 10 October 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice:

"At the invitation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, President Paul Biya of Cameroon and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria met today in Geneva in the Secretary-General's presence, to follow up on the ruling of 10 October of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In this connection, the two Presidents acknowledged the importance for their countries of respecting their obligations under the United Nations Charter.

"The Secretary-General welcomed President Biya's and President Obasanjo's renewed commitment, as Heads of State of law-abiding countries, to renounce the use of force in their bilateral relations and pursue peaceful ways for the settlement of their boundary differences, as well as the constructive spirit which prevailed throughout the various meetings held during the day.

"In the course of these meetings, both parties agreed to identify a number of confidence- building measures which would pave the way to resolving many of the issues which are the subject of the ICJ ruling.

These include measures considered by the two Heads of State in Paris on 5 September and those agreed upon at the ministerial meeting of the Joint Commission in Abuja on 30 September 2002, as well as additional relevant measures.

"In addition, the two Presidents agreed on the need for a meeting between the two sides at Summit level at the earliest possible opportunity, to discuss defence and security issues of common concern.

"The two Presidents further agreed to ask me to establish a mixed commission of the two sides, to be chaired by my Special Envoy, Ahmedou Ould-Adballah, to consider ways of following up the ICJ ruling and moving the process forward.

The mixed commission will meet in Abuja and Yaoundé on an alternating basis.

The first meeting will be held in Yaoundé on 1 December 2002.

"The mixed commission will consider all the implications of the decision, including the need to protect the rights of the affected populations in both countries.

The commission shall, inter alia, be entrusted with the task of demarcating the land boundary between the two countries.

It will also make recommendations on additional confidence-building measures such as the holding, on a regular basis, of meetings between local authorities, Government officials and Heads of State;

developing projects to promote joint economic ventures and cross-border cooperation;

the avoidance of inflammatory

statements or declarations on Bakassi by either side;

troop withdrawal from relevant areas along the land boundary;

eventual demilitarization of the Bakassi Peninsula with the possibility of international personnel to observe withdrawal;

and reactivation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

"The two Presidents agreed to consider what further assistance their countries would need from the United Nations, and to meet again in due course under my auspices to review the progress achieved.

"I reaffirm my personal commitment and that of the United Nations to continuing to assist Cameroon and Nigeria in their efforts to settle their differences peacefully."