The Culturo-Linguistic Factor as a Facilitator of Peace in Present-Day Nigeria – Cameroun Border Relations

The violent clashes between the security and armed forces of Nigeria and Cameroun which marked the border relations between both countries appear to have disappeared following the 2006 final implementation of the 2002 ICJ judgment on the border dispute between these countries. It is therefore generally believed that this judgment and its implementation had brought peace to the border regions and to the general relations of the countries in question. This study has however pointed out and agrees with the view that the said judgment and its implementation are capable of renewing friction, first among the local peoples of both countries living along the border, and ultimately in the general relations between both countries. It has also pointed out the call arising from the above view, for continued search, beyond the ICJ judgment and its implementation, for ways to bring about a permanent and sustainable peace along the border of these countries, and ultimately in the relations between both countries. Contributing to this search, this paper submits that the culturo-linguistic affinities between the peoples across the border could be exploited to facilitate this peace. To demonstrate this thesis, the paper has carried out a detailed examination of the Nigeria – Cameroun border relations before and after the ICJ judgment, and on the basis of findings from this, has proposed concrete measures for exploiting the culture-linguistic affinities of the peoples of the two countries living across the borders for sustainable peace.