INDEPENDENCE VOTE CHRISTMAS 2013

1. INDEPENDENCE VOTE CHRISTMAS 2013 SOUTHERN CAMEROON

2. BACKGROUND • The Southern Cameroons (former British Southern Cameroons) has a surface area of 43,000 sq. km and a current population of about 6 million people. It is thus demographically bigger than at least 60 UN and 18 AU Member States, and spatially bigger than at least 30 UN and 12 AU Member States. Located in the ‘armpit’ of Africa, it is sandwiched between Nigeria and Republique du Cameroun like am English speaking wedge between West Africa and what in effect is still French Equatorial Africa. It has frontiers to the west and north with Nigeria, to the east with Republique du Cameroun, and to the south with the Equatorial Guinean Island of Bioko. The borders are well attested by international boundary treaties. The natural resources of the Southern Cameroons include oil, diamonds, uranium, iron, bauxite, and manganese.

3. POLITICAL STRUCTURE Southern Cameroons was created by the British Order in Council of June 26, 1923. By this act of the colonial authority, the British Southern Cameroons became a distinct entity within the international system, and a unit of self-determination. Between 1954 and 1961, the Southern Cameroons was self-governing, with its government, Prime Minister, parliament, judiciary and House of Chiefs. It conducted its first free and fair election in which power changed hands peacefully in 1959.In 1960 a tragedy occurred when Southern Cameroons was placed under the illegal occupation of Cameroon. In 1972, the Southern Cameroons government was abrogated and the territory was divided into two provinces of La Republique du Cameroun. .

4. CURRENT POLITICAL STRUCTURE Former British territory of Southern Cameroons; declared independence on December 31, 1999. In 2009, the African Union Commission ruled that Southern Cameroons has the right to self determination. Southern Cameroons is recognized by the UNPO in The Hague. • The current President of Southern Cameroons is Ebenezer Derek MbongoAkwanga, Jr, a former political prisoner who is backed by the UN Human Rights Council and the UK NGO Redress. .

5. HYDROCARBONS Currently much of Southern Cameroon is not under production. Limited exploration and extraction has taken place in the BakassiPenninsular, Rio Del Rey, Mamfe Basin, and Mbem Valley regions. Exploration of oil potentials of Rio del Rey began back in 1972 with the Betika oil fields that are almost dry today. In 1995, the government of La Republique du Cameroon enacted law N0. 95/13 of 18 August 1995 laying down specific measures for the promotion of production activities of hydrocarbons. This law opened the way for a secret oil exploration deal between the government of La Republique du Cameroon and two companies, Bowleven and Atwood Oceanics, in 1996.

6. HYDROCARBONS These companies launched an aggressive programme in the Mamfe Basin and Mbem Valley that led to the discovery of very “significant Onshore Oil Deposits in the areas mentioned above. In August 2006, there was another agreement for exploitation processes to begin in the Mamfe Basin and part of the Mbem Valley. The unstable and very sensitive Southern Cameroons struggle has been a stumbling block. The limited exploration in the BakassiPenninsular has uncovered 45.7 million barrels of oil. Southern Cameroon is considered one of the untapped oil rich regions of West Africa.

7. MINERALS Currently much of Southern Cameroon is not under mineral exploration. Large deposits of gold, diamonds, uranium, iron, bauxite, and manganese are known to exist in the region. The exploration of these resources where launched in another secret bid in 1988. The government of La Republique du Cameroon engaged three international companies to engage in the exploration process; these companies are, Firestone Diamonds UK, Adamus Resources Australia, and Ashton Mining Canada. These companies halted their operations in June 1990 because of the tense political atmosphere at the time. In 1998, Adamus Resources made its return alongside Ashton Mining, Firestone pulled out. In 2003, they submitted a report of their first findings. In 2007, both companies tied an agreement with a local partner, BUNS (prior to then involve in Road works, and other excavation services). There were plans to set up BUNS in the Donga Mantung region to begin actual exploitation. Adamus Resources and Ashton Mining were to provide technical back up. In September of 2010, a serious disagreement erupted between the partners and their local front. The diamond, and especially gold exploitation has since then been put on complete hold.