The Challenges of Conflict Resolution in Africa

The Cameroon-Nigerian border conflict over the Bakassi peninsula is a result of colonial negligence. Local interests and boundaries were disregarded when colonial powers were partitioning Africa. The Bakassi Peninsula's richness in natural resources (oil, gas and fish) is the main reason why Cameroon and Nigeria are at loggerheads over the region. Attempts at solving this conflict have failed and even the ICJ ruling does not stand a better chance of settling this dispute if the interests of the local population are not considered.