CAMEROON-NIGERIA MIXED COMMISSION MEETINGS

Final Communiqués

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21ST MEETING

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All Opening Statements

Communiqué adopted at the twenty-first meeting of
the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission
established pursuant to the Joint Geneva communiqué of 15 November 2002

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Yaoundé, 13 March 2008

1.     The Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, which was established pursuant to the Joint Communiqué adopted at the meeting held on 15 November 2002 in Geneva between His Excellency President Paul Biya of Cameroon and His Excellency President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, in the presence of the Secretary General of the United Nations, held its Twenty-first Ordinary Meeting in Yaounde on 13 and 14 March 2008. General Lamine Cissé, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations chaired the deliberations of the Mixed Commission in the presence of His Excellency Maurice Kamto, Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Justice of Cameroon, and His Excellency Prince Bola Ajibola (CFR) of Nigeria, who led the Cameroonian and Nigerian Delegations respectively.    

2.     The Mixed Commission examined and adopted the reports of the Second Extraordinary Meeting of the Working Group on the Maritime Boundary held on 15 and 16 January 2008 and of the Twelfth Ordinary Meeting held on 12 and 13 March 2008 in Yaounde. The Parties agreed on the delineation of the loxodrome extending from point X seawards. The British Admiralty Chart 1387, « Calabar to Bata, including Isla de Bioko » 2007 edition, including the transposition of the loxodromic line was formally approved and signed by the Heads of Delegations and the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Chairman of the Cameroon Nigeria Mixed Commission. This ends the implementation of the International Court of Justice’s Judgement of 10 October 2002, in respect of the Maritime Boundary. The Commission expressed satisfaction at the results achieved so far, which no doubt will pave the way for increased cooperation between the two States.  

3.     The Mixed Commission considered and adopted the reports of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Meetings of the Sub-Commission on Demarcation, which were held respectively on 17 and 18 January 2008 and on 12 and 13 March 2008. The Mixed Commission commended the Joint Technical Team for the demarcation work recently undertaken on the field and requested the UN to give urgent consideration to the remaining contracts. The Commission also approved the field assessment programme for Phase 3C, covering 245 km to be undertaken by the Joint Technical Team from 22 April to the middle of June 2008.

4.     The Mixed Commission was satisfied with the peaceful climate which currently prevails in the Bakassi Peninsula. The Mixed Commission was also satisfied to note that all necessary steps had been taken to conduct, as soon as possible, the Seventh Visit of Observers together with a mission of the Follow-up Committee to the Bakassi Peninsula. The Parties renewed their commitment to abide by the deadline stipulated in the Greentree Agreement for the withdrawal and transfer of authority in the Bakassi Peninsula.

5.     The Mixed Commission noted the information on the forthcoming Twelfth Ordinary Summit of Heads of States and Government of Member States of the Lake Chad Basin Commission scheduled to be held on 27 March 2008 at Abuja.