Cameroon/Nigeria Border Conflict:The Bakassi Peninsula Case(1960-2013)

The impact of the Bakassi Peninsula border conflict between Cameroon and Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. The book argues that boundary conflicts have been and will continue to be common features in international politics/relations. The study identifies the types of border conflicts from the Global North to the Global South and shows how colonial governments are partially to blame for the many border conflicts in Africa. This thesis argues that many of the border conflicts, especially in Africa, stem from the arbitrary nature in which boundaries were fixed. The study shows how old treaties are useful in resolving border conflicts. The study then discusses the causes and impact of the Cameroon and Nigeria border conflict and shows that while treaties were valuable to prove that the Bakassi Peninsula belongs to Cameroon, the inadequate treatment of the Bakassi people raises lots of questions. It looks at both the political and socio-economic impact of the border conflict. The study concludes by showing the challenges inherent in the border conflict viz a viz the ICJ ruling and how such challenges may be overcome.