BOUNDARY DISPUTES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NEPAD IN WEST AFRICA: 2001-2014

ABSTRACT

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development is a pledge by African leaders, based on a common vision and a firm and shared conviction, that they have a pressing duty to eradicate poverty and to place their countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development and, at the same time, to participate actively in the world economy and body politic. The programme is anchored on the determination of Africans to extricate themselves and the continent from the malaise of underdevelopment and exclusion in a globalising world. However, the plethora of border disputes across the West African region over the years appears to have undermined attainment of the goals of good
governance, poverty eradication sustainable economic and political development. This study, therefore, investigates boundary disputes and the implementation of NEPAD in West Africa between 2001 and 2014. The Ex- post facto design was used as the research design. Date from secondary sources such as books, journals and official document were qualitatively analysed. The findings show that before the adoption of NEPAD, various institutional framework for conflict resolution, including the international Court of Justice, UN Charter on Peaceful Resolution of conflicts failed to reduce high incidence of boundary disputes, such as Nigeria – Cameroun, Ivory coast Ghana, Mail – Burkian Faso, etc. In West Africa. It further shows that the African Peer Review Mechanism is an effective strategy for resolving
boundary disputes in West Africa. The study therefore recommends the establishment of a permanent body or structure for the review of border issues in Africa. This will provide African States a venue to channel their grievances for mediation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. i
Approval Page……………………………………………………………………………………………….. ii
Dedication…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. iii
Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………………………………… iv
Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. vi
Contents ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. vii
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Background Of The Study …………………………………………………………………….. 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem………………………………………………………………………… 10
1.3 Objectives of Study ……………………………………………………………………………… 13
1.4 Significance of the Study………………………………………………………………………… 13
1.5 Scope of the Study…………………………………………………………………………………. 13
1.6 Operational Definitions ………………………………………………………………………….. 13
Chapter Two: Literature Review
2.0 Literature Review ……………………………………………………………………………….. 15
2.1 Theoretical Literature ……………………………………………………………………………. 15
2.1.1 African Boundaries……………………………………………………………………………….. 18
2.1.2 Causes and Nature of Boundary Disputes in West Africa……………………………. 26
2.2 Empirical Literature…………………………………………………………………………….. 42
2.2.1 International Boundary Disputes…………………………………………………………….. 42
2.2.2 Traditional, Geographic and Political Features of Bakassi Peninsular ………….49
2.3 Historical Development of NEPAD………………………………………………………… 55
2.4 Gaps in Literature………………………………………………………………………………… 55
Chapter Three: Methodology
3.1 Theoretical Framework……………………………………………………………………………. 69
3.2 Hypotheses…………………………………………………………………………………………… 70
3.3 Research Design……………………………………………………………………………………. 70
3.4 Methods of Data Collection…………………………………………………………………….. 72
3.5 Method of Data Analysis ………………………………………………………………………. 72
Chapter Four: General Review of Boundary Disputes 2001 – 2014
4.1 Nigeria-Cameroun Bakassi Dispute ………………………………………………………….. 76
4.2 Niger – Burkina Faso Border Dispute ………………………………………………………. 89
4.3 Ivory Coast – Ghana Border Dispute ………………………………………………………. 101
4.4 Framework for Resolution of Border Disputes…………………………………………… 103
Chapter Five: The Role of African Peer Review Mechanism in Resolving Border Disputes in West Africa
5.1 The Nepad Vision …………………………………………………………………………………. 114
5.2 The African Peer Review Mechanism……………………………………………………….. 121
5.3 Aprm and Civil Society Participation………………………………………………………… 130
5.4 Aprm and Regional Integration and Development ……………………………………….. 133
5.5 Merits and Benefits of the Aprm Policies ………………………………………………….. 134
5.6 Factors That Undermine Aprm’s Role in Border
Conflicts Resolution ………………………………………………………………………………. 141
Chapter Six: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
6.1 Summary………………………………………………………………………………………………. 145
6.2 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 151
6.3 Recommendations ………………………………………………………………………………….. 151
BIBLIOGRAPY