For a few years, relations between Cameroon and Nigeria have intensified over issues relating to their 1,600-kilometre land boundary, extending from the Lake Chad to the Bakassi peninsula, and boundary into the Gulf of Guinea. The issues that are involved are rights over the oil-rich land and the fate of local populations. For example, as Lake Chad dried up due to desertification, local populations relying on the lake for their water source have followed the receding waters, further blurring the boundary lines. Tensions between the two countries escalated into military confrontation at the end of 1993 with the deployment of Nigerian military to the Bakassi peninsula. The dispute was resolved with the Greentree agreement of 2006.
The Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission Intentions
The Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission is composed of the delegation of Cameroon, led by Mr. Amadou Ali, and the delegation of Nigeria, led by Prince Bola Ajibola. The commission works on many issues between the neighbouring nations, including demilitarisation of militarised zones, economic plans, plans to protect rights of both populations, and the reactivation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission. Approximately $18,000,000 USD was spent on the commission.
The Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission Accomplishments
In December 2003, The demarcation of the Lake Chad area was completed. The process took place in phases with some 33 villages surrounding Naga’a, Tchika, Doron Liman, and Darac handed over to Cameroon, and Damboré to Nigeria.
The cross-border Enugu-Abakiliki-Mamfe-Mutengene road project started in mid-2005.
The final maps of the no-longer-disputed boundary were released in March 2005
Nigeria has often accused Cameroon of not doing enough to fight Boko Haram even though the terrorist group frequently crosses into Cameroonian territory. Cameroon has been attacked several times by Boko Haram.
Border closures after attacks in Nigeria in 2012 to prevent further infiltration by Boko Haram had a negative impact on the Cameroonian economy. In May 2014, in the wake of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping,
" defense minister Edgard Allain Mebe Ngo'o met with Chad's minister of national defense, Benaindo Tatola, in Yaoundé. Ngo'o said Chad had also deployed troops to work together with Cameroonian forces on the borders with Nigeria. He also said troops from the two countries will cross into Nigeria and fight Boko Haram in collaboration with Nigerian forces."
