The Bakassi Affair - The Painful Truth

What is most disturbing about the Bakassi affair is the level of ignorance in the general public in both countries (Cameroon & Nigeria) about the historical background underlying the territorial claims of both countries. What is even more disturbing is the amount of willful ignorance about the legal issues involved.

But what is most vexing and potentially dangerous is the emotive reaction people on both side of the borders display without a full grasp of the issues. Issues of these types are not the sort of arenas for emotional and ill-tempered individuals to pontificate on.  It takes the level-headedness of career diplomats, international lawyers, historians, scholars and dispute negotiators to resolve.  Hence, the decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Nigerian government to hand the disputed territory to Cameroon must not only be applauded but should be seen as an exemplar for resolving international territorial disputes. This is a most "civilised" way of resolving disputes.

The media on both side can be held culpable for irresponsible coverage of the whole affair.  At the start of today, I was no better informed than the average man on the street about the details and background of the dispute - shame on me.  But the difference I have made is that I sought to redress my ignorance on the issue.  So it was that I found this report -

http://www.omoigui.com/files/the_bakassi_story.pdf

which gives a very detailed background into the post-colonial boundary issues between the Nigerian and Cameroonian territories  immediately post independence.  I strongly urge you to inform yourself on the history of the dispute by reading the linked document or any other material, for that matter.

To the ordinary people of both countries, say  inhabitants of Kano or Douala or Lagos or Abuja, Bakassi is but a small territory in a far-off region at the edges of their country.  Before this issue  took the international dimension it now has, few of these urban inhabitants would have known where Bakassi is, much less want to split blood over it.  What amount of national affinity does a Kanoian have with a native of Calabar, Ogoni or Bakassi?  What amount of affinity does a Yaoundian have with the locals of Bakassi, Ida Bato, etc?

To the administrative elites who run both countries, these regions are but their playthings, handed to them in the hustling and jostling in the immediate aftermath of de-colonization. That these may yet prove to be mineral rich makes it even more of a toy to them. Just see the way the oil wealth of both countries have been squandered by the ruling class,   riding roughshod over the needs and concerns of the locals. The disenfranchisement of the inhabitants of the Delta region by the Nigeria government comes to mind.

Now, to what extend is the ordinary Nigerian or Cameroonian citizen able to be manipulated by their respective ruling elite to go do their dirty work (ie fight a war)  and under the virulent guise of patriotism and nationalism.  Would you really want to bear arms in the name of your country without having been fully informed about why you are doing so?

We blame and criticise the American government for leading an illegal war against Iraq.  I think, it behooves us to inform ourselves about the real background to the dispute lest we find ourselves supporting an illegal action by our government.

The painful truth is that many people will remain uninformed about the historical background to the issues, hence rendering themselves mechanical drones susceptible to easy manipulation by their respective governments. Evidence from regions of territorial disputes and conflict (Kossovo, Rwanda, etc) shows that many of the belligerence would have been avoided if only people had a better grasp of their history and that of their neighbours.

I think this peaceful transfer of Bakassi to Cameroon ought to be commended and taken as the paragon of resolving international disputes in this day and age for it shows respect of international laws dating back to 1913.

Huxley was born in Cameroon.


References:
http://www.ipacademy.org/meetings/recent-meetings/2007/08/07/lessons-from-the-resolution-of-the-bakassi-dispute/