UNO STATE DECLARATION AND/OR SOUTHERN CAMEROONS: OUTSTANDING THINGS TO DO

P

UNO STATE DECLARATION AND/OR SOUTHERN CAMEROONS: OUTSTANDING THINGS TO DO

Martin Tumasang
Barrister at law, Advocate/Notary Public/Solicitor, International Arbitrator, Chartered Valuation Surveyor, Principal Quantity Surveyor, Claims Quantum Consultant.

MRICS [London], MCIArb [London], RRVal [London], ABIFM [UK], ADIAC[Dubai], Barrister [Inner Temple London], Advocate/Notary Public/Solicitor [La Republique du Cameroun/Southern Cameroons], Doctor of Philosophy[PhD Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield], Master of Laws (LLM with merit Oil and Gas Law) [Robert Gordon University Aberdeen], Master of Science (MSc Construction Law and Dispute Resolution) [Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds], Master of Science (MSc Property Valuation) [Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield], Bar Professional (BPTC) [BPP University College London], Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip Property Valuation) [Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield], Graduate Diploma Legal Studies (GDL/CPE) [University of Hertfordshire, London], BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying [University of Ife, Osun State].
 
There seems to be great progress being achieved by Prof Martin Chia on this UNO State of Cameroon. This reminds me of some advice I gave some time ago about things to be done. The advice can be summarised as follows:

 

A) Considering that there are various governments or entities claiming to speak for Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia,

B) Mindful that where possible we have to be government/entity free and seek what is good for Southern Cameroons,

C) Being aware that duplicity will only weaken our case in front of international organizations or countries,

D) Considering that in 1949 the Truman Proclamation and later The International Law Commission (ILC)'s work on the law of the sea which ultimately led to the 1958 Convention on the Continental Shelf and widespread acceptance of that concept has led to various claims by various nations,

I hereby advise the following, and suggest that one of the governments or entities representing Southern Cameroons should do the following in the name of the government and people of Southern Cameroons(Ambazonia):

1 Write a letter and submit in one of the embassies or direct to the governments of Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and La Republique du Cameroun requesting the discussion and conclusion of a Treaty on Good Neighbourliness and Co-operation.

2. Write a letter requesting the admission of Southern Cameroons(Ambazonia) in the "World Customs Organisation (WCO), stating the willingness of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) to abide where applicable to the Reversed ARUSHA declaration regarding good governance and integrity in customs recognizing the World Customs Organisation's policy documents and protocols on international trace

3. Write a letter to Equatorial Guinea requesting the start of negotiation for the Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary between Southern Cameroons(Ambazonia) and Equatorial Guinea considering that there might be overlaps in our maritime seas, continental shelf and Exclusive Economic zones particularly in the area adjacent to the Island of Bioko

4. Write a letter to La Republique du Cameroon requesting the start of negotiations on the delimitation of our common maritime boundary.

5. Write a letter to La Republique du Cameroon protesting the chipping of portions of Southern Cameroons(Ambazonia) territory and annexing it to La Republique du Cameroon as previously reported by Martin Yembe as and others and stating that due to the actions of La Republique du Cameroon, a formal international dispute has crystallised in those areas.

6. Write follow up letters to FIFA about Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) status in that organization whether as observer or otherwise.

7. Write a letter to the International Telecommunication Union about providing a code for Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia). While doing this, to couch the letter in terms that are not contradictory to a previous request by Professor Nchia for Southern/Northern Cameroons combined.

8. Write a letter to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("UNCLOS) claiming Southern Cameroon (Ambazonia)'s extended continental shelf.

9. Just as a reminder, Under Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("UNCLOS, the continental shelf is defined as comprising the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas extending beyond the coastal State's territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Under a complex formula established by Article 76(4) to (6) of UNCLOS, however, the coastal State may claim an extended continental shelf stretching up to 350 nautical miles from the baselines of its territorial sea.

10. Procedurally, to formally claim for the external continental shelf, Preliminary information has to be submitted consisting of various items and then final information to be submitted later. The letter will state that we do not yet have the preliminary information but will submit same in due course. The letter serves to establish our international presence and personality.

11. All the above letters serve to preserve our international personality that La Republique du Cameroun is on all fours to extinguish.

General Notes

In the letters, the attention of the addressee where applicable should be called to the fact that :

In "Territorial and Maritime Dispute between Nicaragua and Honduras in the Caribbean Sea (Nicaragua v. Honduras) it was stated that "the establishment of a permanent maritime boundary is a matter of grave importance and agreement is not easily to be presumed" (Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 2007 (II), p. 735, para. 253)", any negotiation or purported agreement with La Republique du Cameroun, Nigeria or any other neighbour that might purport to represent Southern Cameroons(Ambazonia) cannot be assumed to be accepted by Southern Cameroons(Ambazonia).

Southern Cameroons(Ambazonia) agrees with paragraph 4 of Articles 74 and 83 of UNCLOS which provides that where there is an agreement in force between the States concerned, questions relating to the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf "shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of that agreement". The word "agreement" in paragraph 4 (as elsewhere in the Article) refers to an agreement delimiting the exclusive economic zone (Article 74) or the continental shelf (Article 83) referred to in paragraph 1. State practice indicates that the use of a boundary agreed for the delimitation of one maritime zone to delimit another zone is effected by a new agreement. It follows that where there is any delimitation agreement with La Republique du Cameroun or any other party, to extend such agreement to any type of delimitation in Southern Cameroons(Ambazonia) will require a new agreement with Southern Cameroons(Ambazonia).

NB: If any party/entity decides to write any of the above letters, it MUST copy the other parties to prevent a duplication.