Communiqué adopted at the FOURTEENTH meeting of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission
established pursuant to the Joint Geneva communiqué of 15 November 2002

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13-14 October 2005

1. The Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, which was established pursuant to the Joint Communiqué adopted at the meeting held on 15 November 2002, in Geneva, between their Excellencies Presidents Paul Biya of Cameroon and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, held its Fourteenth meeting in Abuja on 13 and 14 October 2005. Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, chaired the meeting of the Commission while Vice-Prime Minister Amadou Ali of Cameroon and Prince Bola Ajibola (CFR) of Nigeria headed their respective delegations.

2. The Mixed Commission considered and adopted the report of the 12th meeting of the Sub-Commission on Demarcation. Concerning the Koja sector, there were differences of views. The Mixed Commission requested its Chairman to assign an independent expert to resolve this difference of understanding of the ICJ judgment as it defines the boundary in the aforementioned area. The Mixed Commission also welcomes the decision of the Sub-Commission on Demarcation to continue the field assessment of the boundary on 5 November 2005.

3. The Mixed Commission welcomes the decision of the European Union to grant four (4) million Euros in support of the demarcation activities, in response to the application for funds by Nigeria and Cameroon.

4. The Mixed Commission considered the report of the 3rd meeting of the Working Group on Maritime Boundary. It also listened to a presentation by the expert of the United Nations on the map prepared by him for the delineation of the maritime boundary between the two countries in accordance with the ICJ decision. While Cameroon agreed with the work of the expert, Nigeria requested to be given a few days to formally send its comments. It was agreed that this will be submitted to the Chairman of the Mixed Commission before the XVth Session of the Mixed Commission.

5. The Working Group set up at the XIIIth Meeting to prepare a new programme of withdrawal of Nigerian troops and authorities from the Bakassi Peninsula submitted its report to the Heads of the two delegations in accordance with its mandate. The leaders of delegations considered and amended the report of the Working Group which includes the new programme of withdrawal. They decided to submit the new programme to both Heads of State and the UN Secretary-General.

6. The 15th Meeting of the Mixed Commission will be held in Yaoundé from 19-20 January 2006 with the possibility of an extension until 21 January 2006.