Cameroon on August 14, 2013 recovered full sovereignty over the Bakassi peninsula in pursuance to provisions of the Green tree Agreement of June 12, 2006. The Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary on August 14, 2013, the day that marked the end of a five year transitional period, met with the national and international press in Yaounde to pay tribute to the wisdom of five famous figures of African history who are architects of this unprecedented success.
The icons, he noted, were Presidents Paul Biya Cameroon, Olusegun Obasanjo, late Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of Nigeria assisted by Koffi Atah Annan, former UN Secretary General in office when the Joint Commission was set up in November 15, 2002 in Geneva to handle the case. “This happy end we are celebrating is the result of the will of the President of the Republic. This choice results from a constant government tradition and political management of the Head of State, who never made mystery of, on the one hand, his irrefutable binding to the ideals of peace, social stability and economic stability of our nation and on the other hand, for the consolidation of cordial, brotherly, fruitful and reciprocally benefiting bilateral relations to both Cameroonians and Nigerians. Two people, geographically and historically forever united,” Issa Tchiroma hinted. He cited millions of Nigerians peacefully living in Cameroon and in perfect harmony with their Cameroonian counterparts. Why would it be different with those living in Bakassi? he questioned.
Communication Minister explained that as from August 14, 2013, the full sovereignty of Cameroon on the whole Bakassi peninsula will be effective and the border dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria considered as definitely settled.
He disclosed that experts from both countries assisted by those of the UN, agreed to map the border line on a distance of about 1913 km from a total of 2000 km in length of the Cameroon-Nigeria border, representing a 95 per cent execution rate of work to be carried out. In the meantime, 467 pillars have been constructed and fitted on the borders. They go from terminal five, south of Lake Chad, in the Far North region of Cameroon, near the source of the Tsikakiri River, in the North Region. What remains now is the continuation of construction works and the fitting of some remaining 500 boundary pillars; the building of the final map of the entire border and the adoption of the demarcation reports, Issa Tchiroma disclosed.
The Bakassi peninsula is located in the Ndian Division of the South-West Region. Having a trapezoid form, it measures 12 km small basis and 25 km height between the Mbenmong village in the north and Kombi A Munja village in the meridian coastline, it covers a general surface area of 665 square km and extends on three of the seven sub-divisions of the Ndian Division, namely Isangele, Kombo Abedimo and Idabato. The population of the peninsula is living in some thirty villages.
