The CNMC was awarded on 20 July 2020 the Raymond Milefsky Prize by IBRU, Durham University’s Centre for Borders Research (United States). This prize rewards the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC) work on the boundary dispute between the two countries.

The CNMC was established in November 2002 by the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the request of presidents Paul Biya of Cameroon and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria. The main objective of the CNMC is to facilitate the implementation of the 10 October 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Cameroon-Nigeria border dispute triggered by claims of sovereignty over the Bakassi peninsula.

The CNMC facilitated the peaceful transfer of authority over Bakassi to Cameroon through the Greentree Agreement, in conformity with the ICJ judgment. To date, thanks to the work of the CNMC, 2,001 kilometers of boundary have been surveyed and agreed upon by the parties out of a total of 2,100 kilometers long.

The CNMC facilitated the peaceful transfer of authority over Bakassi to Cameroon through the Greentree Agreement, in conformity with the ICJ judgment. To date, thanks to the work of the CNMC, 2,001 kilometers of boundary have been surveyed and agreed upon by the parties out of a total of 2,100 kilometers long.

As the Chair of the CNMC, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, is honored and very pleased with this recognition by IBRU for the work achieved by the CNMC in favor of peace between the two countries and in the sub region.

The Milefsky Award is made annually to an individual or organization that has advanced boundary-making or cross-border cooperation. This award is made possible by a bequest from the estate of Raymond Milefsky, a long-time borders expert with the US Department of State. The award includes a cash prize of £745.

 For more information on the work of the CNMC, visit our website: https://unowas.unmissions.org/cameroon-nigeria-mixed-commission