The issue might not have degenerated into a public shouting match; or the recalling of accredited ambassadors, but hardliners within the Cameroon government have been pressuring President Paul Biya to withdraw Cameroon’s Special Forces currently engaged in the war against the murderous Islamist Boko Haram sect in the northern part of the country, as part of a coalition of the willing to curtail the activities of the terrorists that have killed over 15,000 people and displaced around 1.5 million people during the six-year insurgency in which it has tried to establish an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria. Tension between Cameroon and Nigeria is mounting after Cameroonian authorities worked diplomatic back channels to demand an official explanation from Nigeria for the diplomatic snub by President Buhari; failure to which they will back out of the anti-Boko Haram coalition, in which Cameroonian troops are currently engaging Boko Haram.

Yaoundé authorities are irked at what they said was a diplomatic snub by the new administration in Abuja after President Buhari skipped Cameroon and visited Chad and Niger Republic, to discuss efforts at combating the insurgency that has spiraled into neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Cameroon has been on the frontlines of the fight against Boko Haram, committing several battalions of its rapid intervention brigade (BIR) to the northern part of the country where hundreds have been killed, including at least 100 of its soldiers, fighting Boko Haram. Thousands have also been displaced in the fighting along the northern borders; where Cameroon is hosting a battalion of Chadian soldiers fighting the insurgents.

Multiple sources at Unity Palace; the Cameroonian presidency told Huhuonline that Yaoundé was apprehensive that President Buhari decided to pay his first foreign visit to Niger, where he spent two days with President Mohamadou Issoufou; from where he flew to Chad to meet with President Idris Derby Itno for talks on the way forward in the war against Boko Haram. Cameroonian officials had hoped that after Chad, President Buhari would at least make a stop in Yaoundé, which is just an hour flight from the Chadian capital, Ndjamena. But that did not happen.

To their consternation and surprise, Buhari returned home, only to honor an invitation by G-7 leaders in Germany to talk about climate change. “The action of the Nigerian president is the highest watermark of ingratitude; an insult and a mark of contempt by the new Nigerian leader for the people of Cameroon and this is unacceptable,” a source at the Cameroon embassy in Washington DC told Huhuonline. The source said, “Cameroon had no dog in the fight; Boko Haram was a purely internal Nigerian affair; we were dragged into the war following repeated incursions by Boko Haram militants who forayed into our territory and kidnapped foreigners and the wife of the Cameroonian vice prime minister, who was later rescued.” Cameroonians are angry over the perceived diplomatic snub on the part of Nigeria because not only has Cameroon been at the frontline of the fight against Boko Haram and has lost dozens of its valiant soldiers as well as innocent men, women and children; but unlike Chad and Niger, Cameroon is also hosting thousands of Nigerian refugees who have fled the violence and are now living in Cameroon.

No reason was given by Aso Rock for President Buhari’s failure to visit Cameroon but Presidential spokesman, Malam Shehu Garba, only confirmed in a statement that the President’s trip to Chad and Niger specifically focused on “matters of security,” since Nigeria’s neighbors remain crucial to ending the Boko Haram insurgency. This open acknowledgment reinforced hard feeling amongst Cameroonian officials that Buhari treated them with “disrespect” and for which an apology will not even be enough!

The combined operation by forces from Cameroon and Chad have seen the Nigerian military claim a series of major victories over Boko Haram across the northeast but the terrorist have made Cameroon their second front and still hold positions along the Cameroonian border with Nigeria, in the Sambisa Forest and Mandara mountains. Joint operations by Chadian and Cameroonian forces have also seized Boko Haram positions and prevented Boko Haram fighters from escaping as Nigerian forces and South African mercenaries close on them.

It was expected that with Cameroon having suffered the second largest casualties in the ongoing war against Boko Haram, Buhari would have visited Cameroon first, given that Cameroon is also host to over three million resident Nigerians, including refugees from the Nigerian civil war of 1967-70, who currently call Cameroon home. Diplomatic watchers have interpreted Buhari’s failure to visit Cameroon, as evidence of the frosty relations between President Biya; one of Africa’s longest serving presidents (in power since 1982) and Buhari; now the new face of Africa’s democratic transition. The animosity between the two men are said to be more personal.

Yaoundé diplomatic sources believe that Aso Rock is sending a message that Cameroon no longer featured in their strategic calculus to defeat Boko Haram after the Nigerian army effectively relocated its headquarters from Abuja to Maiduguri, the largest city in the northeast, on Monday. Aso Rock sources hinted that Buhari did not fail to notice the earlier snub by Biya who failed to attend his inauguration despite repeated assurances by the Cameroonian president; who was represented at the event by vice-prime minister, Ahmadou Ali. “Why would the President visit someone who refused to honor his own invitation” the source asked?

According to the source, the Cameroonian president is known to be “snobbish” and “arrogant” and despite Cameroon’s effort in the war against Boko Haram, Buhari is said to harbor strong feelings against Biya for not doing enough to end the harassment and victimization of Nigerians residing in the Bakassi peninsular which was handed to Cameroon by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). “The issue which has thus become imperative to address is how to save the people of Bakassi from the negative implications and consequences of the ICJ’s decision and protect them from the brutal proclivity of the Cameroon Government,” the source noted, adding; Buhari will like to see the Cameroonian president focus on “the catalogue of inexplicable and unjustifiable harassment, intimidation and extra-judicial killings of Nigerians living in Bakassi by Cameroonian gendarmes.”

Huhuonline understands that Buhari, like most in the military, were strongly against ceding Bakassi to Cameroon, saying Obasanjo sacrificed the sovereignty of Nigeria on the altar of his personal quest for international credibility as a statesman, following his election in 1999. Many soldiers, including then Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Chukwumerije favored sending Nigerian troops to occupy the peninsular; and ignore the ICJ verdict, pointing to states like Britain, Israel, and others that had ignored similar verdicts. But OBJ overruled them, even after Biya left him waiting at the airport in Yaoundé for over three hours.

The incident was recounted in Lagos by former Cross Rivers State Governor, Donald Duke, at a special lecture to commemorate the 60th birthday of retired Federal High Court Justice, Charles Archibong. Duke recalled that Biya snubbed Obasanjo over an earlier clash between him and former military Head of State, late General Sani Abacha. “The issue of Bakassi is interesting. There was the legal aspect and there was the international politics aspect of it. Behind the scene, a lot of meetings took place and in a bid to attend one of those meetings, we arrived at the airport in Cameroon with then President Olusegun Obasanjo and at the airport, President Biya was there seeing off another leader, but he snubbed us. “He (Biya) left us at the airport for over three hours and we were there at the airport with embassy staff not knowing what to do. Grudgingly, he met with us and lectured us on Bakassi. We later found out that he was reacting to an earlier confrontation between him and General Abacha over Bakassi,” Duke narrated.

It remains unclear whether Buhari can re-litigate Bakassi since the 10-year statute of limitation expired and the government of President Jonathan refused to appeal the ICJ verdict. But whether Cameroon can back out of the fight against Boko Haram is easier said than done, giving that Cameroon is the second front in the war and Boko Haram has made direct threats to Cameroon and continues to launch sporadic attacks inside Cameroonian territory, capturing hostages, stealing food and killing civilians.

source http://huhuonline.com/index.php/more-news1/5661-buhari-snub-angers-cameroon-threaten-anti-boko-haram-coalition

Your post is really long. I think the caption says it all. The snub angers Cameroun. That's all.

Ok

He didn't go to Chad or Niger to deliberate on tackling Boko Haram rather he went over there to discuss how they can support the Jihadist in establishing their Caliphate.

WombRaiders:
He didn't go to Chad or Niger to deliberate on tackling Boko Haram rather he went over there to discuss how they can support the Jihadist in establishing their Caliphate.

Uhmm baba o! Awon eleyi

trouble is when a person enters one chance but disaster is when a country enters the one chance

mistypiper:


Uhmm baba o! Awon eleyi

Una never see anything fir that una you select Southwest

Keep dreaming that Buhari gives a fark about you kafurs


Buhari will send troops to secure his cows before ever looking your side

[img]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/courage/images/9/9d/Abichuela.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110305013008[/img]

Cameroon and their French imperialist are not friends of Nigeria they won't stop claiming our lands and resources at any opportune chance , bakasi Peninsula is still fresh in our memory.

WombRaiders:


Una never see anything fir that una you select Southwest

Keep dreaming that Buhari gives a fark about you kafurs


Buhari will send troops to secure his cows before ever looking your side

[img]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/courage/images/9/9d/Abichuela.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110305013008[/img]

Southwest? You're mad bro

What is stopping there president from coming to abuja

WombRaiders:
He didn't go to Chad or Niger to deliberate on tackling Boko Haram rather he went over there to discuss how they can support the Jihadist in establishing their Caliphate.

It is very painful that our people are blind to the mindset of the Islamists.
Buhari's loyalty is not Nigeria but to Islam even if it is a violent one.

Time is a revealer of things, I only hope its not too late for us.

THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD

Is the president of Cameroon barred from entering Nigeria Are we missing something here??

There is no reason thay buhari should snub cameroon. They are second to nigeria in boko haram attacks...except for hidden religous motives

Buhari would rather not seek coalition from a country with which 70 percent of the population is at least nominally Christian.

Cameroun shouldn't expect that.

Buhari has obviously made it look like an Islamic affair.

First Prof Osinbajo denied access to security briefing and now Cameroun being snubbed.

omenka:
Is the president of Cameroon barred from entering Nigeria Are we missing something here??

Was it the presidents of Chad and Niger who came to Nigeria or the other way round?

I also thought of it

Buhari should quickly settle this diplomatic war

I forsee Cameroon making a secret peace pact with Boko Haram which will divert lots of Fighters to Nigeria and see weapons reaching BH through Cameroon.


To win some wars, you overlook somethings.

noblezone:


It is very painful that our people are blind to the mindset of the Islamists.
Buhari's loyalty is not Nigeria but to Islam even if it is a violent one.

Time is a revealer of things, I only hope its not too late for us.

it's certainly too late for YOU to have sense

I think i will enjoy the wailing and griping you folks are committed to for the next 4 years

realjoker:
Cameroon and their French imperialist are not friends of Nigeria they won't stop claiming our lands and resources at any opportune chance , bakasi Peninsula is still fresh in our memory.

Is it not hippo obj that sold it to them?

mrvitalis:
What is stopping there president from coming to abuja

because boko haram is not their headache. Stop reasoning with ur anus!

omenka:
Is the president of Cameroon barred from entering Nigeria Are we missing something here??

Just like I told d dude above, same goes to u!

How strong is our diplomatic ties with Cameroon ever since we conceded Bakassi?

Well, make I pause here and read comments.
Anyhoe sha, I guess buhari trusts his moslem brotger countries more.

well it is high time we let cameroon know that we dont consider them as a friend.... After claiming bakasi through.the help of france and our corrupt leaders.
this same country embarrassed obj when he visited tgem to resolve the bakasi issue amicably

lomprico:

because boko haram is not their headache. Stop reasoning with ur anus!

Lol if it not there problem why would buhari meet them
Now who is reasonable

I know nairaland is filed with people with children mentality, this is not APC VS PDP, this is a real diplomatic issue; Paul biya cannot love Nigeria more than buhari. even as a PDP man I chose to support our president on this while hoping that he will offer explanation for his actions regarding the issue to Nigerians someday.

I was initially angry with baba because we can't afford to add diplomatic wars to our long list of problems until I read the whole article. Paul Biya should go to hell! So he didn't honour PMB's invitation at his inauguration and he expected a visit from him? Just because he had a personal grudge with Abacha, he snubbed and kept OBJ waiting at the airport for three hours even though OBJ had already accepted to respect ICJ's ruling on Bakassi. You keep disrespecting people and you want them to respect you back? The maltreatment and killings of Nigerians went on for long and you didn't do anything about it. U siddon dia since 1982, u no gree comot dia like say na only get brain pass for d whole of Cameroon. You must be a clown! I just hope PMB has a solid plan mapped out in crushing Boko Haram in a few months.

texazzpete:


it's certainly too late for YOU to have sense

I think i will enjoy the wailing and griping you folks are committed to for the next 4 years

I have made my point.
Counter it with your point(s).
I am unmoved by childish tantrums.

They are right though, I have been wondering all the while why Buhari visited Niger and Chad and did not visit or mention Cameroon Some food for thought. They should shout out for the whole world to hear afterall they also been involved in the fight against Boko Haram

omenka:
Is the president of Cameroon barred from entering Nigeria Are we missing something here??

Well our went visiting, talking & liaising with Chad & Niger leaving out Cameroon who also have been involved in the fight. All concerned countries should have been carried along.

.

Paul Biya isnt a muslim na!
I saw photos from Buhari's visit to Niger and Chad, it looked like a celebration of rich Fulani culture.