Concepts on How to Help Prevent or Solve Conflicts in Africa. The Case of the Cameroon-Nigerian Border Conflict

Abstract

The aim is this study is to come up with new proposals as to how to solve or prevent conflicts in Africa. The focus is on border conflicts and more specifically on the Cameroon-Nigeria border conflict over the Bakassi Peninsular. Conflict prevention and Management has been of great concern to modern states as well as other organizations. This is because of the increasing number of conflicts in the world and in Africa in particular. There are many ways used to prevent and/or solve conflicts but most of them have not succeeded in their missions especially those in Africa. It is usually presumed that the failures are due to foreign measures which are imposed on the African countries. According to some social scientists, African nations should play a greater role in conflict prevention in their continent. International supports which mostly come from Europe and the US (United States) have included aid, peace keeping forces and others. These aids in many cases have not helped to solve or prevent conflict in Africa and elsewhere. Some critics even hold that these aid help to promote conflict than prevent them. Some of these aid or help from outside are mostly misused and or do not reach those who need them. In oder to curb some of the shortcomings faced in conflict prevention and management, some European countries like Sweden have made much research on how to prevent and manage conflict in the world. The idea of cooperation amongst all the actors involve in conflict prevention and management is necessary and important. The training of the local forces by states and the cooperation between governmental and non-governmental organizations in conflict prevention should be strengthened. States should create national co-coordinators who are to promote social rights and anti-corruption in foreign business. There should also be cooperation between states and international organizations covering reconstruction, security, nationality and property issues. A strong appeal is made to multinational companies to involve in conflict prevention processes in their area of operation. The analysis of the roots of conflict and to fight them from the base is an important factor in conflict prevention and management. For the interest of world peace and security, conflict prevention and management should be an important aspect of the foreign policies of modern democratic states.Like in most African countries, the Cameroon-Nigerian border Conflict over the Bakassi peninsula stemmed from the mistakes the colonial masters (British and the Germans) made when making the boundary. The local boundaries were not considered and the new boundaries were made to serve their interests. The interest and social situation of the local people were neglected and after independence, the mistakes were not corrected but inherited. As was the case with the colonial masters, economic factor of the border crisis is more felt. For the Europeans, it was to secure better trade but the local people wanted to keep their fishing grounds and farmlands, while the local authorities had to collect taxes and royalties. For the Cameroon and Nigerian government, it is the exploitation of more oil and other resources discovered in the region. Attempts to solve this crisis at state level and by regional organizations like the OA.U have failed. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a UN agent stands a better chance to resolve this conflict. But its resolutions on this conflict must be accepted by both conflicting parties in order to attain a peaceful solution. Also, both parties have to carry out bilateral cooperation with the help of the international community in order to achieve a lasting solution to the conflict.