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Bakassi handover ruled 'illegal' | Bakassi handover ruled 'illegal' |
(3 days later) | |
Nigeria's senate has approved a motion declaring that last year's handover of the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon was illegal. | Nigeria's senate has approved a motion declaring that last year's handover of the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon was illegal. |
The upper house of parliament said that no part of Nigeria could be ceded without changing the constitution. | The upper house of parliament said that no part of Nigeria could be ceded without changing the constitution. |
Senators called on the government to halt the transfer of areas along the border further north. | Senators called on the government to halt the transfer of areas along the border further north. |
In 2002, the International Court of Justice ruled in favour of Cameroon in the two countries' border dispute. | In 2002, the International Court of Justice ruled in favour of Cameroon in the two countries' border dispute. |
The senate also called for more aid for those displaced by the handover - but did not say that Nigeria should retake Bakassi. | The senate also called for more aid for those displaced by the handover - but did not say that Nigeria should retake Bakassi. |
In pictures: Bakassi handover | In pictures: Bakassi handover |
"The agreement reached to cede the Bakassi region to Cameroon was not tabled before the National Assembly," Senator Muhammad Mana told the BBC. | |
"Therefore everything on the agreement should be stopped until it has been ratified by the National Assembly.'' | "Therefore everything on the agreement should be stopped until it has been ratified by the National Assembly.'' |
The vote comes at a time of heightened tensions in the area. | The vote comes at a time of heightened tensions in the area. |
Nigeria reinforced troops on its side of the border after 21 Cameroon troops were killed in Bakassi two weeks ago. | Nigeria reinforced troops on its side of the border after 21 Cameroon troops were killed in Bakassi two weeks ago. |
It is not clear who carried out the attack - Nigeria's oil militants have denied claims they were responsible. | It is not clear who carried out the attack - Nigeria's oil militants have denied claims they were responsible. |
Nigerian troops withdrew in August 2006 but the peninsula will remain under Nigerian civil administration until 2008. | Nigerian troops withdrew in August 2006 but the peninsula will remain under Nigerian civil administration until 2008. |
Most of the residents were Nigerian and bitterly opposed the handover. | Most of the residents were Nigerian and bitterly opposed the handover. |
Nigeria and Cameroon sought arbitration after a series of bloody clashes in the 1990s. | Nigeria and Cameroon sought arbitration after a series of bloody clashes in the 1990s. |
Bakassi juts into the Gulf of Guinea, an area which may contain up to 10% of the world's oil and gas reserves. It is also rich in fish. | Bakassi juts into the Gulf of Guinea, an area which may contain up to 10% of the world's oil and gas reserves. It is also rich in fish. |
The peninsula has been administered by Nigeria since independence from Britain in 1960. | |
However, Cameroon based its claim of sovereignty over the region on maps dating back to the colonial era. | However, Cameroon based its claim of sovereignty over the region on maps dating back to the colonial era. |
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