Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yaounde (Agenzia Fides)- At least 21 Cameroonian soldiers were killed in a shootout with armed men wearing military uniforms, in the Bakassi peninsula, a territory rich in oil, which after a long dispute with Nigeria was assigned to Cameroon following arbitration of the International Court of Justice (see Fides 24/6/2005 and 14/6/2006). The assailants moved by boat to a Cameroonian army base and opened fire. The soldiers responded to the fire killing 10 members of the commando.
The Nigerian authorities said they had nothing to do with the episode. According to the Cameroon authorities the assailants could belong to one of the many armed groups which operate in the nearby Nigerian Delta region. However independent Observers say the assault could have been carried out by local elements, dissatisfied with Cameroon administration.
Since August 2006, peninsula is still adjusting to the change from Nigerian to Cameroonian administration. Nigeria administered the peninsula between 1960 and 2006. On the basis of an agreement reached by a joint mixed commission of the two countries, local residents have three options: take full Cameroonian citizenship, retain Nigerian citizenship with residence permit in Cameroon or leave Bakassi and go to live Nigeria.
Until June 2008, a small part of the peninsula called “Bakassi zone” will remain under Nigerian administration. The area, in rich fishing grounds, is overpopulated with fishermen and fishing is the main local occupation. Pending the hand-over to Cameroonian administration most public services such as schools, healthcare and water supplies have been suspended.
In the rest of the peninsula Cameroonian administration has activated social services but the situation of public order is still uncertain because as yet no local police force has been deployed. There is a third Nigerian area, adjacent to the peninsula for people from Bakassi who want to resettle in Nigeria. This area is also without basic services.
Over the past few days in Cameroon there were clashes between students and police in the city of di Kumba. The students were protesting against continual cuts in electrical power. In the clashes some students were killed. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/11/2007 righe 35 parole 384)
