UN Security Council welcomes peaceful border settlement between Cameroon, Nigeri

The UN Security Council on Thursday welcomed the peaceful conclusion of the transitional regime of Bakassi Peninsula, a disputed oil-rich region between Cameroon and Nigeria.

In a press statement issued here, the council hailed the peaceful end of a crisis over the Bakassi peninsula and spoke highly of the two African countries for their efforts to resolve the differences through peaceful means.

Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Bakassi Peninsula had been the subject of intense and sometimes violent disputes between the two countries for decades until they agreed to a UN-backed process to settle the matter.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) resolved the issue with a ruling in 2002. That was followed by the 2006 Greentree agreement -- signed under the auspices of former UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan -- under which Nigeria recognized Cameroonian sovereignty over the peninsula.

The agreement stated the modalities for the transfer of power, including the time frame and the creation of a mixed commission to coordinate all actions in the field. Under the accord, Cameroon had a five year transitional period starting from the date of withdrawal of Nigeria's civil administration in August 2008.

In the press statement, "the members of the Security Council praise the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria for their commitment in honoring their obligations to comply with the decisions of the International Court of Justice and for the responsible and peaceful way in which they have resolved their differences on this matter."

The Security Council members commended the efforts of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission in facilitating the performance of the obligations under the judgment of the ICJ and the demarcating of the land and maritime boundary between the two countries, the statement said.

The Council encouraged the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria to continue to "enhance cross-border confidence building measures that address the security and well-being of the populations affected by the demarcation process," said the statement.