The Cameroon–Nigeria border is 1,975 km (1,227 mi) in length and runs from the

tripoint A triple border, tripoint, trijunction, triple point, or tri-border area is a geography, geographical point at which the boundaries of three countries or Administrative division, subnational entities meet. There are 175 international tripoints ...

with

Chad Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North Africa, North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to Chad–Libya border, the north, Sudan to Chad–Sudan border, the east, the Central Afric ...

in the north to the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...

in the south.

Description

The border starts in the north at the

with Chad in

Lake Chad Lake Chad (, Kanuri language, Kanuri: ''Sádǝ'', ) is an endorheic freshwater lake located at the junction of four countries: Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, in western and central Africa respectively, with a catchment area in excess of . ...

, proceeding through the lake via an NW-SE straight line down to the estuary of the Ebedi river. The border follows this river as it flows to the south-east, before turning south, proceeding overland in this direction via a series of irregular lines and some small rivers (such as the Kalia). In the vicinity of the parallel 11°30 the border turns to the south-west, turning north-west at the town of Banki, and then south-west through the Mandara Mountains and Atlantika Mountains, occasionally utilising rivers such as the Mayo Tiel and Benue. At about the parallel of 6°30 the border shifts to the west, using irregular lines and rivers such as the Donga, before continuing in a south-west direction via various overland lines and rivers (such as the

Cross A cross is a religious symbol consisting of two Intersection (set theory), intersecting Line (geometry), lines, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of t ...

and Akwayafe), before entering the Bight of Benin just west of the Bakassi peninsula.

History

Britain had (via the Royal Niger Company) administered the area around

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

since 1861 and the Oil River Protectorate (

Calabar Calabar (also referred to as Callabar, Calabari, Calbari, Cali and Kalabar) is the capital city of Cross River State, Nigeria. It was originally named Akwa Akpa, in the Efik language, as the Efik people dominate this area. The city is adjac ...

are the surrounding area) since 1884. As Britain expanded into the interior, two colonies were created - the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate. In 1900 the administration of these areas was transferred to the British government, with the Northern and Southern (including Lagos and Calabar) protectorates united as the colony of Nigeria in 1914. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the

Scramble for Africa The Scramble for Africa was the invasion, conquest, and colonialism, colonisation of most of Africa by seven Western European powers driven by the Second Industrial Revolution during the late 19th century and early 20th century in the era of ...

, Germany had claimed Cameroon (''Kamerun'') in July 1884. The Scramble culminated in the Berlin Conference of 1884, in which the European nations concerned agreed upon their respective territorial claims and the rules of engagements going forward. Cameroon boundary changes

In April–June 1885 Britain and Germany signed a treaty outlining a border in the southern areas of Nigeria and Cameroon utilising the Rio del Rey and the Cross River. The boundary was extended northwards as far as Yola in July–August 1886. Disagreements as to the location of the rivers mentioned in these treaties led to another treaty on 1 July 1890 modifying the southern section of the boundary, clarified by mutual agreement on 14 April 1893. A treaty of 15 November 1893 then extended the boundary north into Lake Chad; this section was clarified in further detail on 19 March 1906. The entire boundary was then confirmed by mutual agreement in February–March 1909 and March–April 1913. When the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

broke out in 1914, Britain and France invaded Cameroon and eventually defeated the Germans in 1916. on 22 July 1922, Cameroon became a

League of Nations The League of Nations (LN or LoN; , SdN) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920), Paris Peace ...

mandate, with the vast majority of the colony going to France, and smaller areas along the Nigerian border ( Northern Cameroons and Southern Cameroons, the former split into two sections) in the west to Britain. A British

Order in Council An Order in Council is a type of legislation in many countries, especially the Commonwealth realms. In the United Kingdom, this legislation is formally made in the name of the monarch by and with the advice and consent of the Privy Council ('' ...

of 26 June 1923 stated that thenceforth the British mandated areas would be considered administratively to form part of Nigeria. The boundary between the British and French mandates was delimited in 1930 and then finalised on 9 January 1931. This mandate/trusteeship arrangement was affirmed by the UN in 1946. On 2 August that same year Britain finalised the border between Northern and Southern Cameroon, which today forms much of the

Taraba State Taraba is a States of Nigeria, state in north-eastern Nigeria, named after the Taraba River, which traverses the southern part of the state. It is known as "Nature's Gift to the Nation". Its capital is Jalingo. The state's main Demographics ...

section of the border. As the movement for decolonisation grew in the post-

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

era, Britain and France gradually granted more political rights and representation for their African colonies. Cameroon gained full independence in January 1960, followed by Nigeria in October. In February 1961 a

plebiscite A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a direct vote by the electorate (rather than their representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either binding (resulting in the adoption of a new policy) or adv ...

was held on the future of Britain's Cameroon mandate, as a result of which Northern Cameroons voted to join Nigeria and Southern Cameroon voted to join Cameroon, thereby fixing the border at its current position. In 1994 a long-simmering dispute over the ownership of the Bakassi peninsula was forwarded to the

International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice (ICJ; , CIJ), or colloquially the World Court, is the only international court that Adjudication, adjudicates general disputes between nations, and gives advisory opinions on International law, internation ...

, ruling that the territory belonged to Cameroon in 2002. Despite considerable opposition to the ruling within Nigeria, the peninsula was handed to Cameroon during the period 2006–08. Opposition within Bakassi to Cameroonian annexation has led to the Bakassi conflict, which has merged to some degree with the wider Anglophone Crisis in the country, with vocal demands for the separation of the former Southern Cameroons as Ambazonia.Cameroon's Separatists Intensify Attacks to Protest Dialogue
Voice of America, Sep 24, 2019. Accessed Sep 26, 2019. The far north of the border meanwhile has been heavily affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in recent years. On June 27, 2024, Cameroon and Nigeria reach an agreement during the 20th extraordinary session of their joint commission. Nigeria agrees not to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice to resolve the last remaining disputed border points.Cameroon, Nigeria agree to end border dispute
Voice of America, Jun 28, 2024. Accessed Jun 29, 2024.

Settlements near the border

Cameroon

* Bri * Bodo * Blame * Afade * Diba * Limani * Ndoughoula * Ziguague * Bounderi * Banki * Mogode * Demsa * Gerele * Mbaga * Beka * Tchamba * Balkosa * Salpeo * Dodeo * Abong * Tamian * Loua * Adere * Abatoum * Esengi * Obonye * Mbenmong

Nigeria

* Dambaru * Ngala * Rann * Gilego * Kumshe * Backi * Madagali * Musuma * Maiha * Wuro Bokka * Belel * Konkul * Gurin * Buli * Sampa * Kojoli * Tapare * Djawe * Kanyaka * Mbarka Manga * Tosso * Lissam Sambo * Pambo * Okwa * Danare * Okuri * Esuokon * Ikang

Border crossings

The two main crossings are at Banki (NGA)- Mora (CMR) in the north and Mfum (NGA)- Mamfe (CMR) in the south.Ben West (2011) ''Bradt Travel Guide - Cameroon'', pg. 54Williams, Lizzie, (2012) ''Bradt Travel Guide - Nigeria'', pgs. 59-60

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cameroon-Nigeria border Borders of Cameroon Borders of Nigeria International borders