[dehai-news] (CNN) Nigeria cedes disputed peninsula to Cameroon


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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Thu Aug 14 2008 - 13:46:45 EDT


08/14/2008

Nigeria cedes disputed peninsula to Cameroon

Nigeria on Thursday officially gave Cameroon full ownership
Nations were on brink of war over control of Bakassi Peninsula
International court in 2002 determined Cameroon is the rightful owner
Nigeria's decision to go ahead with the handover has been unpopular

CALABAR, Nigeria (AP) -- Nigeria on Thursday officially handed over to
Cameroon full ownership of a peninsula that nearly ignited a border war
between the two neighboring African nations.

Officials from both countries signed a document in which Nigeria agreed to
withdraw any claims on the Bakassi Peninsula, in keeping with a 2002
international court ruling that determined Cameroon is the rightful owner.

"As painful as it is, we have a responsibility to keep our commitment to the
international community, promote international peace and cooperation and
advance the cause of African brotherhood and good neighborliness," said
Nigerian Attorney General Michael Aondaokaa.

The decision by the Nigeria's government to go ahead with the handover has
been unpopular in the country, and security was boosted across the southeast
before Thursday's ceremony. Officials changed the venue at the last minute,
but gave no reason why the handover took place in the city of Calabar,
instead of inside the Bakassi Peninsula itself.

U.N. officials have hailed the transfer as an example of a peaceful solution
to a thorny international issue. The countries nearly went to war in the
1990s over the peninsula, which is thought to have potential energy reserves
since it lies on the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea.

Nigeria has for two years been withdrawing troops from Bakassi and ceding
administrative control to Cameroon -- and Thursday's ceremony that included
an exchange of flags made it permanent.

The 2002 ruling by The Hague, Netherlands-based International Court of
Justice was made when Olusegun Obasanjo was Nigeria's president. His
successor, President Umaru Yar'Adua, had said he intended to comply with it.

Some Nigerian lawmakers and citizens say the resolution amounted to an
international treaty and should have been subject to Senate ratification.
Nigeria says some 300,000 of its citizens live on the Bakassi Peninsula.

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