International border disputes can lead to escalating rhetoric, tensions and even war between neighbours. U.N. efforts to keep this from happening – supported by the Department of Political Affairs – are currently helping governments to resolve longstanding territorial disputes between Cameroon and Nigeria, and between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Cameroon and Nigeria: the Bakassi Peninsula

A nearly century-old dispute over the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula and other areas prompted military clashes in the early-1990s between Cameroon and Nigeria and continued thereafter to cause friction between these West African neighbours. Turning to international law and U.N. mediation to prevent further conflict, both sides agreed to abide by a 2002 decision of the International Court of Justice, delineating the 1,600-kilometer land and maritime border between the countries. The United Nations has provided good offices and technical assistance in helping to ensure they peacefully implement the decision.

The role of the Department of Political Affairs has been to assist the Secretary-General in his good offices between the leaders of the two countries, and to also provide support and guidance to the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, in his capacity as chairman of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission. The Commission was established by both sides to help ensure the ICJ ruling is carried out.

By late-2006 there had been substantial progress in carrying out the commitments. Following the successful transfer of authority in the Lake Chad area in 2003, and in the land boundary in 2004, Nigerian armed forces completed their withdrawal from the disputed Bakassi peninsula in August 2006. The technical work of demarcating of the final land and maritime boundaries continued.

Equatorial Guinea and Gabon

The United Nations is also assisting the governments of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to peacefully resolve their competing claims to the islands of Mbanié, Cocotiers and Congas and to delimit, once and for all, their common land and maritime boundaries. This longstanding dispute has remained a source of periodic tensions between the two nations of Central Africa since 1972, which prompted Presidents Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea to request the Secretary-General’s good offices in July 2003.

The Department of Political Affairs has since August 2003 assisted the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser and Mediator on the matter, Mr. L. Yves Fortier. DPA has provided political guidance, as well as staff, logistical and administrative support.

In February 2006, during a tripartite summit held in Geneva between the Secretary-General and the Heads of State of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea the parties decided to engage in direct negotiations towards reaching a comprehensive agreement by the end of 2006. In April 2006, at the request of the parties, the Secretary-General instructed the Mediator to propose an equitable solution based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.