Lessons from the Resolution of the Bakassi Dispute

IPI (formerly International Peace Academy) was pleased to host one-day international policy seminar on the pacific settlement of boundary disputes. The seminar was titled: “Lessons from the Resolution of the Bakassi Dispute,” (as the Cameroon-Nigeria boundary disagreement is commonly referred to in the policy community.) The meeting was co-hosted by International Peace Institute (IPI), the University of Yaoundé II in Cameroon and the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs. The seminar was also supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Governments of Cameroon and Nigeria. It brought together senior government officials and policymakers from both countries, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the United Nations, the African Union and regional economic communities. The seminar brought mediation practitioners and academics from the continent, Europe and North America.

The resolution of the Bakassi dispute and the entire Cameroon-Nigeria boundary disagreement was the first time a deeply entrenched dispute of its nature was settled in Africa with the use of international mechanisms, particularly that of the UN. The objectives of the seminar were to: (1) provide opportunities for policy makers to discuss the broad issues of border regimes in Africa from the view point of Bakassi; (2) deepen knowledge and understanding on the principles, techniques and best practices for negotiating boundary disputes; and (3) provide a forum for expanding networks among the mediation and conflict management practitioners in international organizations, governments and academia.

Participants included leaders of delegations from Cameroon and Nigeria. From Nigeria H.E. Dr. Joy Ogwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs lead the delegation. The Cameroon delegation was led by Professor Maurice Kamto, Minister-Delegate in the Ministry of Justice. Presenters included Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General, Professor Ade Adefuye, Special Adviser, Head of Africa Section, Political Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, Professor Maurice Kamto, Minister-Delegate of Justice, Republic of Cameroon and Professor, University of Yaoundé II, Professor Osita C. Eze, Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Dr. Ruth Iyob, Associate Professor and Fellow, University of Missouri, St Louis, Dr. Gilbert Khadiagala, Jan Smuts Professor of International Relations and Head of Department of International Relations, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, Mr. Geofrey Mugumya, Director, Peace and Security, African Union Commission, Ethiopia, and Lt. Col. (Rtd.) Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, Coordinator, International Observer Team to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission.

This meeting was chaired by Ambassador John Hirsch, Dr. Fabien Nkot, and Professor Ade Adefuye.