Goodbye Bakassi / Welcome Bakassi

Conflicting emotions as Nigeria cedes Bakassi to Cameroon.

The final transfer of the disputed Bakassi Peninsula from Nigeria to Cameroon took place today, in accordance with the 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice and the 2006 Greentree Agreement.

Although Cameroon now exercises full control over Bakassi, the Greentree agreement establishes a five-year transitional period (non-renwable). During this period, Nigerian authorities will still have some level of access to the territory, while inhabitants will be exempted from a number customs and immigration requirements.

Under the terms of the agreement, the predominantly Nigerian inhabitant could either keep their Nigerian nationality and remain as foreign residents in Bakassi, take Cameroonian nationality, or resettle elsewhere in Nigeria.

The Annex tot the Greentree agreement stipulates in Paragraph 4 that:

Following the transfer of authority over the Zone to Cameroon, the latter shall apply to the Zone a special transitional regime for a non-renewable period of five years. In the application of the special transitional regime, Cameroon shall:

(a) Facilitate the exercise of the rights of Nigerian nationals living in the Zone and access by Nigerian civil authorities to the Nigerian population living in the Zone;

(b) Not apply its customs or immigration laws to Nigerian nationals living in the Zone on their direct return from Nigeria for the purpose of exercising their activities;

(c) allow officers and uniformed personnel of the Nigerian police access to the Zone, in cooperation with the Cameroonian police, with the minimum of formalities when dealing with inquiries into crimes and offences or other incidents exclusively concerning Nigerian nationals; and

(d) Allow innocent passage in the territorial waters of the Zone to civilian ships sailing under the Nigerian flag, consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, to the exclusion of Nigerian warships.

Click here to print or download the Greentree agreement (pdf).

Comments

[solomonsydelle]

I specifically chose to not embed myself in this bakassi issue for many reasons. But, it is clear that there is major resistance to the handover in Nigeria.

How are Cameroonians dealing with it, now that it has happened? Thanks and take care.