436 Chapter 4
Narrative: Cameroun and Nigeria engaged in several clashes over control of the
Bakassi peninsula on their joint border.
MID#4250
Dispute Number: 4250
Date(s): March 2, 1998 to September 10, 1998
Participants: 471 Cameroon/475 Nigeria
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: On February 25, 1998, a Nigerian counsel went to the International Court
of Justice for discussions on claims of sovereignty over the Bakassi peninsula with
Cameroon that had been ongoing since 1994. Then on March 2, Nigerian and Camer-
oonian soldiers clashed, killing at least seven soldiers. On March 6, Nigeria accused
Friday of deploying 5,000 troops and heavy weapons to the Bakassi peninsula. On
March 21, Cameroon helicopters attacked more than 40 Nigerian citizens. Nigeria
warned the following week that any aircraft in Bakassi would be shot down. On Sep-
tember 10, Nigeria moved more troops to the border with Cameroon despite accusing
Cameroon of the same action two days earlier.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from February 25, 1998. End Date changed
from September 11, 1998. Fatalities changed from Missing.
MID#4380
Dispute Number: 4380
Date(s): June 18, 2005
Participants: 471 Cameroon/475 Nigeria
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: Nigerian and Cameroonian forces clashed on the Bakassi peninsula.
471 CAMEROON/481 GABON
MID#1339
Dispute Number: 1339
Date(s): November 16, 1976
Participants: 471 Cameroon/481 Gabon
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: Gabon closed its northern border in response to a rocket attack on one of
its border posts by uniformed men. A squad of Gabonese policemen were wiped out.
The Gabonese president did not explicitly blame Cameroon, perhaps because the two
countries had held a meeting between senior officers at the outpost shortly prior to
the incident.