The Nigerian-Cameroon crisis over the Bakassi Peninsula occurred owing to the interpretation of the treaty of 1913 and the
The dispute over the Bakassi Peninsula is one of the most significant border conflicts in West African history. While the International Court of Justice (ICJ) eventually settled the matter in 2002, the crisis itself was deeply rooted in the conflicting interpretations of two specific historical landmarks: the Anglo-German Treaty of 1913 and the Maroua Accord of 1975.
The disagreement centred on which country held legal title to the oil-rich peninsula. The two primary legal pillars involved were:
The 1913 Anglo-German Treaty: This colonial-era agreement between Britain (representing Nigeria) and Germany (representing Cameroon) shifted the border in a way that placed Bakassi under German jurisdiction. Nigeria later argued that this treaty was flawed or not properly ratified.
The Maroua Accord (1975): This was a bilateral agreement signed by the Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and the Cameroonian President, Ahmadou Ahidjo. The accord sought to define the maritime boundary between the two nations, effectively conceding Bakassi to Cameroon. However, subsequent Nigerian governments (starting with the Murtala Muhammed regime) reneged on the accord, claiming it was never ratified by the Supreme Military Council.
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