Agreement between the Republic of Cameroon and the Federal Republic of Nigeria concerning the Modalities of Withdrawal and Transfer of Authority in the Bakassi Peninsula

  • Country/entity
    Cameroon
    Nigeria
  • Region
    Africa (excl MENA)
    Africa (excl MENA)
  • Agreement name
    Agreement between the Republic of Cameroon and the Federal Republic of Nigeria concerning the Modalities of Withdrawal and Transfer of Authority in the Bakassi Peninsula
  • Date
    12 Jun 2006
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Interstate/interstate conflict ( Bakassi Territorial Dispute (1993 - 2006) )
  • Stage
    Implementation/renegotiation
  • Conflict nature
    Territory
  • Peace process
    Cameroon-Nigeria border peace process
  • Parties
    For the Republic of Cameroon: Paul Biya, President

    For the Federal Republic of Nigeria: Olusegun Obasanjo, President
  • Third parties
    Unsigned copy of the agreement. The following entities are listed as witnesses:

    Witnesses

    For the United Nations:

    For the Federal Republic of Germany:

    For the United States of America:

    For the French Republic:

    For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
  • Description
    This agreement outlines modalities for implementing the ICJ 10 October 2002 decision. Issues covered include Nigeria's recognition of Cameroon's sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula; the withdrawal of Nigerian armed forces from the Bakassi Peninsula, the protection of Nigerian Nationals' rights following Nigeria's withdrawal from the Bakassi Peninsula; and the establishment of a follow-up committee to monitor the implementation of the agreement.


Groups

  • Children/youth

    No specific mention.

  • Disabled persons

    No specific mention.

  • Elderly/age

    No specific mention.

  • Migrant workers

    No specific mention.

  • Racial/ethnic/national group
    Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Substantive
    Page 2, Article 3, 1: Cameroon, after the transfer of authority to it by Nigeria, guarantees to Nigerian nationals living in the Bakassi Peninsula the exercise of the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in international human rights law and in other relevant provisions of international law.

    Page 2, Article 3, 2: In particular, Cameroon shall:
    a) not force Nigerian nationals living in the Bakassi Peninsula to leave the Zone or to change their nationality;
    b) respect their culture, language and beliefs;
    c) respect their right to continue their agricultural and fishing activities;
    d) protect their property and their customary land rights;
    e) not levy in any discriminatory manner any taxes and other dues on Nigerian nationals living in the Zone; and
    f) take every necessary measure to protect Nigerian nationals living in the Zone from any harassment or harm.

    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 3: For the duration of this period, Nigeria shall:
    ...(b) take every necessary measure, under the supervision of the United Nations observers of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, to stop any transfer or influx of its nationals into the Zone;
    (c) not engage in any activity in the Zone which would complicate or hinder the transfer of authority to Cameroon;

    Page 5, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 4: Following the transfer of authority over the Zone to Cameroon, the latter shall apply to the Zone a special transitional regime for a non-renewable period of five years.
    In the application of the special transitional regime, Cameroon shall:
    (a) facilitate the exercise of the rights of Nigerian nationals living in the Zone and access by Nigerian civil authorities to the Nigerian population living in the Zone;
    (b) not apply its customs or immigration laws to Nigerian nationals living in the Zone on their direct return from Nigeria for the purpose of exercising their activities;
    (c) allow officers and uniformed personnel of the Nigerian police access to the Zone, in cooperation with the Cameroonian police, with the minimum of formalities when dealing with inquiries into crimes and offences or other incidents exclusively concerning Nigerian nationals; and

    Page 5, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 6: In accordance with paragraph 4 of this Annex, any acquisition of land in the Zone by Nigerian nationals not resident in the Zone at the time of the signature of this Agreement shall be perfected only in accordance with the laws and regulations of Cameroon.
  • Religious groups

    No specific mention.

  • Indigenous people

    No specific mention.

  • Other groups

    No specific mention.

  • Refugees/displaced persons
    Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 3: For the duration of this period, Nigeria shall:
    ...(e) guarantee to Cameroonian nationals wishing to return to their village in the Zone the exercise of their rights;
  • Social class

    No specific mention.


Gender

  • Women, girls and gender

    No specific mention.

  • Men and boys

    No specific mention.

  • LGBTI

    No specific mention.

  • Family

    No specific mention.


State definition

  • Nature of state (general)

    No specific mention.

  • State configuration

    No specific mention.

  • Self determination

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum

    No specific mention.

  • State symbols

    No specific mention.

  • Independence/secession

    No specific mention.

  • Accession/unification

    No specific mention.

  • Border delimitation
    [Summary: The entire agreement provides for the delimitation of the border between Cameroon and Nigeria].

    Page 1, Untitled Preamble: ...Considering that the question of the withdrawal from and transfer of authority over the Bakassi Peninsula should be treated in a forward-looking spirit of goodwill in order to open new prospects for cooperation between the two countries after decades of difficult bilateral relations,

    Page 1, Article 1: Nigeria recognizes the sovereignty of Cameroon over the Bakassi Peninsula in accordance with the judgment of the International Court of Justice of 10 October 2002 in the matter of the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria. Cameroon and Nigeria recognize the land and maritime boundary between the two countries as delineated by the Court and commit themselves to continuing the process of implementation already begun.

    Page 2, Article 4: Annex I and the map contained in Annex II to this Agreement shall constitute an integral part thereof.
    No part of this Agreement shall be interpreted as a renunciation by Cameroon of its sovereignty over any part of its territory.

    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 1: In order to prepare the Nigerian nationals living in the zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula (hereinafter “the Zone”) for the transfer of authority to Cameroon, the Zone shall temporarily be subject to a special status as laid down in this Annex.
    For the purpose of this Annex, the details of the delimitation of the Zone are set out in the attached map (Annex II).

    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 3: For the duration of this period, Nigeria shall:
    ...(b) take every necessary measure, under the supervision of the United Nations observers of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, to stop any transfer or influx of its nationals into the Zone;

    Page 5, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 5: At the end of the special transitional regime, Cameroon shall fully exercise its rights of sovereignty over the Zone.

    Page 5, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 6: In accordance with paragraph 4 of this Annex, any acquisition of land in the Zone by Nigerian nationals not resident in the Zone at the time of the signature of this Agreement shall be perfected only in accordance with the laws and regulations of Cameroon.
  • Cross-border provision
    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 2: (a) Cameroon shall allow Nigeria to keep its civil administration and a police force necessary for the maintenance of law and order in the Zone for a non-renewable period of two years from the time of the withdrawal of the Nigerian forces. At the end of this period, Nigeria shall withdraw its administration and its police force and Cameroon shall take over the administration of the Zone.

    Page 5, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 4: Following the transfer of authority over the Zone to Cameroon, the latter shall apply to the Zone a special transitional regime for a non-renewable period of five years.
    In the application of the special transitional regime, Cameroon shall:
    (a) facilitate the exercise of the rights of Nigerian nationals living in the Zone and access by Nigerian civil authorities to the Nigerian population living in the Zone;
    (b) not apply its customs or immigration laws to Nigerian nationals living in the Zone on their direct return from Nigeria for the purpose of exercising their activities;
    (c) allow officers and uniformed personnel of the Nigerian police access to the Zone, in cooperation with the Cameroonian police, with the minimum of formalities when dealing with inquiries into crimes and offences or other incidents exclusively concerning Nigerian nationals; and
    (d) allow innocent passage in the territorial waters of the Zone to civilian ships sailing under the Nigerian flag, consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, to the exclusion of Nigerian warships.

Governance

  • Political institutions (new or reformed)

    No specific mention.

  • Elections

    No specific mention.

  • Electoral commission

    No specific mention.

  • Political parties reform

    No specific mention.

  • Civil society

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional/religious leaders

    No specific mention.

  • Public administration

    No specific mention.

  • Constitution

    No specific mention.


Power sharing

  • Political power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Territorial power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Economic power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Military power sharing

    No specific mention.


Human rights and equality

  • Human rights/RoL general

    No specific mention.

  • Bill of rights/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Treaty incorporation
    Page 2, Article 3, 1: Cameroon, after the transfer of authority to it by Nigeria, guarantees to Nigerian nationals living in the Bakassi Peninsula the exercise of the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in international human rights law and in other relevant provisions of international law.
  • Civil and political rights

    No specific mention.

  • Socio-economic rights

    No specific mention.


Rights related issues

  • Citizenship
    Rights related issues→Citizenship→Citizens, specific rights
    Page 2, Article 3, 1: Cameroon, after the transfer of authority to it by Nigeria, guarantees to Nigerian nationals living in the Bakassi Peninsula the exercise of the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in international human rights law and in other relevant provisions of international law.

    Page 2, Article 3, 2: In particular, Cameroon shall:
    a) not force Nigerian nationals living in the Bakassi Peninsula to leave the Zone or to change their nationality;
    b) respect their culture, language and beliefs;
    c) respect their right to continue their agricultural and fishing activities;
    d) protect their property and their customary land rights;
    e) not levy in any discriminatory manner any taxes and other dues on Nigerian nationals living in the Zone; and
    f) take every necessary measure to protect Nigerian nationals living in the Zone from any harassment or harm.

    Page 5, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 4: Following the transfer of authority over the Zone to Cameroon, the latter shall apply to the Zone a special transitional regime for a non-renewable period of five years.
    In the application of the special transitional regime, Cameroon shall:
    (a) facilitate the exercise of the rights of Nigerian nationals living in the Zone and access by Nigerian civil authorities to the Nigerian population living in the Zone;
    (b) not apply its customs or immigration laws to Nigerian nationals living in the Zone on their direct return from Nigeria for the purpose of exercising their activities;
    (c) allow officers and uniformed personnel of the Nigerian police access to the Zone, in cooperation with the Cameroonian police, with the minimum of formalities when dealing with inquiries into crimes and offences or other incidents exclusively concerning Nigerian nationals; and
  • Democracy

    No specific mention.

  • Detention procedures

    No specific mention.

  • Media and communication

    No specific mention.

  • Mobility/access

    No specific mention.

  • Protection measures

    No specific mention.

  • Other

    No specific mention.


Rights institutions

  • NHRI

    No specific mention.

  • Regional or international human rights institutions

    No specific mention.


Justice sector reform

  • Criminal justice and emergency law

    No specific mention.

  • State of emergency provisions

    No specific mention.

  • Judiciary and courts

    No specific mention.

  • Prisons and detention

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional Laws

    No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

  • Development or socio-economic reconstruction

    No specific mention.

  • National economic plan

    No specific mention.

  • Natural resources

    No specific mention.

  • International funds

    No specific mention.

  • Business
    Page 2, Article 3, 2: In particular, Cameroon shall:
    ...c) respect their right to continue their agricultural and fishing activities;
  • Taxation
    Socio-economic reconstruction→Taxation→Reform of taxation
    Page 2, Article 3, 2: In particular, Cameroon shall:
    ...e) not levy in any discriminatory manner any taxes and other dues on Nigerian nationals living in the Zone;

    Page 5, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 4: Following the transfer of authority over the Zone to Cameroon, the latter shall apply to the Zone a special transitional regime for a non-renewable period of five years.
    In the application of the special transitional regime, Cameroon shall:
    ...(b) not apply its customs or immigration laws to Nigerian nationals living in the Zone on their direct return from Nigeria for the purpose of exercising their activities;
  • Banks

    No specific mention.


Land, property and environment

  • Land reform/rights
    Land, property and environment→Land reform/rights→Other land rights
    Page 2, Article 3, 2: In particular, Cameroon shall:
    ...d) protect their property and their customary land rights;

    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 3: For the duration of this period, Nigeria shall:
    ...(g) take every necessary measure to prevent any change in land-property rights;

    Page 5, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 6: In accordance with paragraph 4 of this Annex, any acquisition of land in the Zone by Nigerian nationals not resident in the Zone at the time of the signature of this Agreement shall be perfected only in accordance with the laws and regulations of Cameroon.
  • Pastoralist/nomadism rights

    No specific mention.

  • Cultural heritage
    Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Promotion
    Page 2, Article 3, 2: In particular, Cameroon shall:
    ...b) respect their culture, language and beliefs;
  • Environment
    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 3: For the duration of this period, Nigeria shall:
    ...(f) not conduct or continue the exploitation of natural resources in the sub-soil of the Zone, or to engage in any other activity harmful to the environment;
  • Water or riparian rights or access
    Page 1, Article 1: Nigeria recognizes the sovereignty of Cameroon over the Bakassi Peninsula in accordance with the judgment of the International Court of Justice of 10 October 2002 in the matter of the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria. Cameroon and Nigeria recognize the land and maritime boundary between the two countries as delineated by the Court and commit themselves to continuing the process of implementation already begun.

    Page 2, Article 3, 2: In particular, Cameroon shall:
    ...c) respect their right to continue their agricultural and fishing activities;

    Page 5, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 4: Following the transfer of authority over the Zone to Cameroon, the latter shall apply to the Zone a special transitional regime for a non-renewable period of five years.
    In the application of the special transitional regime, Cameroon shall:
    ...(d) allow innocent passage in the territorial waters of the Zone to civilian ships sailing under the Nigerian flag, consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, to the exclusion of Nigerian warships.

Security sector

  • Security Guarantees
    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 3: For the duration of this period, Nigeria shall:
    (a) not conduct or allow the conduct of any activities in the Zone which would prejudice Cameroon’s peace or security;
  • Ceasefire

    No specific mention.

  • Police
    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 2: (a) Cameroon shall allow Nigeria to keep its civil administration and a police force necessary for the maintenance of law and order in the Zone for a non-renewable period of two years from the time of the withdrawal of the Nigerian forces. At the end of this period, Nigeria shall withdraw its administration and its police force and Cameroon shall take over the administration of the Zone.

    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 3: For the duration of this period, Nigeria shall:
    ...(d) equip its police force in the Zone with only the light equipment strictly necessary for the maintenance of law and order and for personal defence;

    Page 5, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 4: Following the transfer of authority over the Zone to Cameroon, the latter shall apply to the Zone a special transitional regime for a non-renewable period of five years.
    In the application of the special transitional regime, Cameroon shall:
    ...(c) allow officers and uniformed personnel of the Nigerian police access to the Zone, in cooperation with the Cameroonian police, with the minimum of formalities when dealing with inquiries into crimes and offences or other incidents exclusively concerning Nigerian nationals; and
  • Armed forces
    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 3: For the duration of this period, Nigeria shall:
    ...(h) not position any armed forces in the Zone.
  • DDR

    No specific mention.

  • Intelligence services

    No specific mention.

  • Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces

    No specific mention.

  • Withdrawal of foreign forces
    Page 1, Article 2: Nigeria agrees to withdraw all its armed forces from the Bakassi Peninsula within sixty days of the date of the signing of this Agreement. If exceptional circumstances so require, the Secretary- General of the United Nations may extend the period, as necessary, for a further period not exceeding a total of thirty days. This withdrawal shall be conducted in accordance with the modalities envisaged in Annex I to this Agreement.

    Page 5, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 4: Following the transfer of authority over the Zone to Cameroon, the latter shall apply to the Zone a special transitional regime for a non-renewable period of five years.
    In the application of the special transitional regime, Cameroon shall:
    ...(d) allow innocent passage in the territorial waters of the Zone to civilian ships sailing under the Nigerian flag, consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, to the exclusion of Nigerian warships.
  • Corruption

    No specific mention.

  • Crime/organised crime

    No specific mention.

  • Drugs

    No specific mention.

  • Terrorism

    No specific mention.


Transitional justice

  • Transitional justice general

    No specific mention.

  • Amnesty/pardon

    No specific mention.

  • Courts

    No specific mention.

  • Mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Prisoner release

    No specific mention.

  • Vetting

    No specific mention.

  • Victims

    No specific mention.

  • Missing persons

    No specific mention.

  • Reparations

    No specific mention.

  • Reconciliation

    No specific mention.


Implementation

  • UN signatory
    Witnesses

    For the United Nations:
  • Other international signatory
    Witnesses

    For the Federal Republic of Germany:

    For the United States of America:

    For the French Republic:

    For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
  • Referendum for agreement

    No specific mention.

  • International mission/force/similar
    Page 2, Article 6, 1: A Follow-up Committee to monitor the implementation of this Agreement is hereby established. It shall be composed of representatives of Cameroon, Nigeria, the United Nations and the witness States. The Committee shall monitor the implementation of the Agreement by the Parties with the assistance of the United Nations observers of the Mixed Commission

    Page 4, Annex I, Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula, 3: For the duration of this period, Nigeria shall:
    ...(b) take every necessary measure, under the supervision of the United Nations observers of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, to stop any transfer or influx of its nationals into the Zone;
  • Enforcement mechanism
    Page 2, Article 6, 1: A Follow-up Committee to monitor the implementation of this Agreement is hereby established. It shall be composed of representatives of Cameroon, Nigeria, the United Nations and the witness States. The Committee shall monitor the implementation of the Agreement by the Parties with the assistance of the United Nations observers of the Mixed Commission.

    Page 2, Article 6, 2: The Follow-up Committee shall settle any dispute regarding the interpretation and implementation of this Agreement.

    Page 2, Article 6, 3: The activities of the Follow-up Committee shall cease at the end of the period of the special transitional regime provided for in paragraph 4 of Annex I to this Agreement.
  • Related cases

    No specific mention.

  • Source
    African Union Peace and Security: www.peaceau.org

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA CONCERNING THE MODALITIES OF WITHDRAWAL

AND TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY IN THE BAKASSI PENINSULA

The Republic of Cameroon (hereinafter referred to as “Cameroon”) and the Federal Republic of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as “Nigeria”),

Reaffirming their willingness to peacefully implement the judgment of the International Court of Justice,

Commending the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his efforts made in this respect in organizing the tripartite summits and establishing the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission,

Considering that the question of the withdrawal from and transfer of authority over the Bakassi Peninsula should be treated in a forward-looking spirit of goodwill in order to open new prospects for cooperation between the two countries after decades of difficult bilateral relations,

Determined to encourage the consolidation of confidence and peace between their two countries for the well-being of their peoples and for stability in the subregion,

Have decided to conclude the present Agreement.

Article 1

Nigeria recognizes the sovereignty of Cameroon over the Bakassi Peninsula in accordance with the judgment of the International Court of Justice of 10 October 2002 in the matter of the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria.

Cameroon and Nigeria recognize the land and maritime boundary between the two countries as delineated by the Court and commit themselves to continuing the process of implementation already begun.

Article 2

Nigeria agrees to withdraw all its armed forces from the Bakassi Peninsula within sixty days of the date of the signing of this Agreement.

If exceptional circumstances so require, the Secretary- General of the United Nations may extend the period, as necessary, for a further period not exceeding a total of thirty days.

This withdrawal shall be conducted in accordance with the modalities envisaged in Annex I to this Agreement.

Article 3

Cameroon, after the transfer of authority to it by Nigeria, guarantees to Nigerian nationals living in the Bakassi Peninsula the exercise of the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in international human rights law and in other relevant provisions of international law.

In particular, Cameroon shall:

not force Nigerian nationals living in the Bakassi Peninsula to leave the Zone or to change their nationality;

respect their culture, language and beliefs;

respect their right to continue their agricultural and fishing activities;

protect their property and their customary land rights;

not levy in any discriminatory manner any taxes and other dues on Nigerian nationals living in the Zone;

and

take every necessary measure to protect Nigerian nationals living in the Zone from any harassment or harm.

Article 4

Annex I and the map contained in Annex II to this Agreement shall constitute an integral part thereof.

No part of this Agreement shall be interpreted as a renunciation by Cameroon of its sovereignty over any part of its territory.

Article 5

This Agreement shall be implemented in good faith by the Parties, with the good offices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, if necessary, and shall be witnessed by the United Nations, the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America.

Article 6

A Follow-up Committee to monitor the implementation of this Agreement is hereby established.

It shall be composed of representatives of Cameroon, Nigeria, the United Nations and the witness States.

The Committee shall monitor the implementation of the Agreement by the Parties with the assistance of the United Nations observers of the Mixed Commission.

The Follow-up Committee shall settle any dispute regarding the interpretation and implementation of this Agreement.

The activities of the Follow-up Committee shall cease at the end of the period of the special transitional regime provided for in paragraph 4 of Annex I to this Agreement.

Article 7

This Agreement shall in no way be construed as an interpretation or modification of the judgment of the International Court of Justice of 10 October 2002, for which the Agreement only sets out the modalities of implementation.

Article 8

This Agreement is concluded in English and French, both texts being equally authentic.

Done at Greentree, New York, on 12 June 2006.

For the Republic of Cameroon:

Paul Biya, President

For the Federal Republic of Nigeria:

Olusegun Obasanjo, President

Witnesses

For the United Nations:

For the Federal Republic of Germany:

For the United States of America:

:

For the French Republic:

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Annex I

Zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula

In order to prepare the Nigerian nationals living in the zone in question of the Bakassi Peninsula (hereinafter “the Zone”) for the transfer of authority to Cameroon, the Zone shall temporarily be subject to a special status as laid down in this Annex.

For the purpose of this Annex, the details of the delimitation of the Zone are set out in the attached map (Annex II).

(a) Cameroon shall allow Nigeria to keep its civil administration and a police force necessary for the maintenance of law and order in the Zone for a non-renewable period of two years from the time of the withdrawal of the Nigerian forces.

At the end of this period, Nigeria shall withdraw its administration and its police force and Cameroon shall take over the administration of the Zone.

(b) The United Nations and the witness States shall be invited to attend the ceremony of the transfer of authority.

For the duration of this period, Nigeria shall:

not conduct or allow the conduct of any activities in the Zone which would prejudice Cameroon’s peace or security;

take every necessary measure, under the supervision of the United Nations observers of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, to stop any transfer or influx of its nationals into the Zone;

not engage in any activity in the Zone which would complicate or hinder the transfer of authority to Cameroon;

equip its police force in the Zone with only the light equipment strictly necessary for the maintenance of law and order and for personal defence;

guarantee to Cameroonian nationals wishing to return to their village in the Zone the exercise of their rights;

not conduct or continue the exploitation of natural resources in the sub-soil of the Zone, or to engage in any other activity harmful to the environment;

take every necessary measure to prevent any change in land-property rights;

and

not position any armed forces in the Zone.

Following the transfer of authority over the Zone to Cameroon, the latter shall apply to the Zone a special transitional regime for a non-renewable period of five years.

In the application of the special transitional regime, Cameroon shall:

facilitate the exercise of the rights of Nigerian nationals living in the Zone and access by Nigerian civil authorities to the Nigerian population living in the Zone;

not apply its customs or immigration laws to Nigerian nationals living in the Zone on their direct return from Nigeria for the purpose of exercising their activities;

allow officers and uniformed personnel of the Nigerian police access to the Zone, in cooperation with the Cameroonian police, with the minimum of formalities when dealing with inquiries into crimes and offences or other incidents exclusively concerning Nigerian nationals;

and

allow innocent passage in the territorial waters of the Zone to civilian ships sailing under the Nigerian flag, consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, to the exclusion of Nigerian warships.

At the end of the special transitional regime, Cameroon shall fully exercise its rights of sovereignty over the Zone.

In accordance with paragraph 4 of this Annex, any acquisition of land in the Zone by Nigerian nationals not resident in the Zone at the time of the signature of this Agreement shall be perfected only in accordance with the laws and regulations of Cameroon.