Article

2005-06-23 Africa: Subsaharan

Cameroon has accused Nigeria of launching a series of attacks in the disputed oil-rich Bakassi peninsula. One Cameroon soldier was killed, another wounded and "material damage" caused by the four attacks this month, a government statement said. Nigeria has denied the claims, saying the clashes involved local ~~heavily armed~~ fishermen.

The International Court of Justice has awarded the peninsula to Cameroon, but Nigerian forces did not withdraw, as planned last September. Cameroon President Paul Biya on Monday received an envoy from Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo, who handed him a sealed message.

"Dear Paul. I'm keeping the land. Regards to the wife. Olusegun."

Mr Biya is set to lodge a formal complaint with the United Nations, the statement said. "The brutal and unilateral nature of the attacks and provocations by the Nigerian army obliged the Cameroonian army, in a situation of legitimate self-defence, to riposte," it said. Most of the inhabitants of Bakassi are Nigerian and do not want the handover to take place. Some have asked the courts to prevent the Nigerian government from giving Bakassi to Cameroon. The two countries began marking out their common border earlier this year. Bakassi juts into the Gulf of Guinea - which it is thought could contain up to 10% of the world's oil and gas reserves - south of the border between the two countries. It is also rich in fish.

Posted by Steve 2005-06-23 08:25|| || Front Page|| [11135 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Dear Paul,

Nigeria has had the good fortune of receiving the entire country of Gabon, complete with its oil industry. For complex legal reasons, we are unable to keep it, and would like to hand it over to Cameroun. However in order to do so, you must pass sovereingty over the Cameroun to our lawyer, whose address in Lagos is included below. We assure you this will be only temporary.

Your FRIEND,

Olusegun

Posted by liberalhawk 2005-06-23 09:54|| 2005-06-23 09:54|| Front Page Top

#2 He's lodging a formal complaint with the United Nations, eh? Well, that should clear things up pretty quickly.

Posted by Captain Pedantic 2005-06-23 12:27|| 2005-06-23 12:27|| Front Page Top

#3 Dear Paul,

Your name was given to me from a mutual business acquaintence who assured me that you would deal with the proposition I have with the utmost confidence. I have vouchers for delivery of 50 million barrels of Nigerian oil that I am unable to negotiate directly because of the current media situation It is imperative that I sell these now while the market is hot. If you will assist in procesing this transaction you may retain 10% of the gross proceeds. 10% will also go to Obasanjo, who will be allowed to take over the rest of your country if you do not cooperate. If you are interested in this opportunity, please reply to me at United Nations Procurement Service, 304 East 45th Street, FF Building, 2nd Floor, New York, New York.

Your humble servant,

Kojo

Posted by Kojo Annan 2005-06-23 14:55|| 2005-06-23 14:55|| Front Page Top

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