Bakassi Movement for Self-Determination
Encyclopedia
The Bakassi Movement for Self-Determination (BAMOSD) is a militant organization that seeks for the independence of Bakassi
, a disputed territory between Nigeria
and Cameroon
, as the Democratic Republic of Bakassi.
from Nigeria was taken at a meeting in Yenagoa
, Bayelsa State
on July 2, 2006.
It has made two declarations of independence since its foundation in 2006: one on August 2, 2006 in light of the Green Tree Agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon, and another one on July 31, 2008 (two days less than two years after the first declaration of independence). In the latter declaration, Akwa Obutong was declared the capital of the republic.
One of the first leaders of the organization, Tony Ene Asuquo
, died less than a month after the first declaration of independence in a mysterious car accident.
movement, which opposes the federal government and the predominate petroleum industry in the Niger Delta, and the SCAPO, which seeks independence for the nearby Southern Cameroons
as the Republic of Ambazonia
.
On 31 October 2008, gunmen in speedboats have kidnapped and threatened to kill 10 crew members from French oil tanker "Bourbon Sagitta" near the Bakassi Peninsula. The vessel's owners said those taken hostage were seven French nationals, two Cameroonians and a Tunisian. A group called Bakassi Freedom Fighters has claimed to have carried out the attack.
The leader of the group Ebi Dari told the BBC's Randy Joe Sa'ah in Cameroon that the Cameroonian government has seven days to enter into dialogue. He said the government had been warned many months ago that there would be no peace in Bakassi if it did not talk with the Bakassi Freedom Fighters. He said the group opposed the secession of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon from Nigeria.
Reuters news agency reported that the attack had been carried out jointly with a second group called Niger Delta Defence and Security Council (NDDSC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7701628.stm
On November 5, 2008, the commander of the militant group, Ebi Dari confirmed that one of the French hostages under its custody was killed in a failed rescue bid by Cameroonian soldiers. http://allafrica.com/stories/200811130086.html. However, then it was reported that the seafarer reported killed was still alive http://www.maritimeasia.net/ll/news/bourbon-sagitta-crew-all-fine-says-rebel-leader/1225972134917.htm;jsessionid=B176494E5B722234F0C14495C23CEF3E
On November 5, 2008 Groupe Bourbon announced that all its 10 crew members had been released. http://www.oilpubs.com/oso/article.asp?v1=7993
Bakassi
Bakassi is the peninsular extension of the African territory of Calabar into the Atlantic Ocean. It is currently ruled by Cameroon following the transfer of sovereignty from neighbouring Nigeria as a result of a judgment by the International Court of Justice...
, a disputed territory between Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, as the Democratic Republic of Bakassi.
History
According to an email sent by Sive Ogan, a member of BAMOSD, the decision to declare secessionSecession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
from Nigeria was taken at a meeting in Yenagoa
Yenagoa
Yenagoa is a Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Yenagoa in the south of the area at.The LGA has an area of 706 km² and a population of 353,344 at the 2006 census....
, Bayelsa State
Bayelsa State
Bayelsa State is a state in southern Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region, between Delta State and Rivers State. Its capital is Yenagoa. The language spoken here is Ijaw language and dialects of the Ijaw language such as Nembe, Atissa, Akassa, Ogbia, etc. However, like the rest of Nigeria,...
on July 2, 2006.
It has made two declarations of independence since its foundation in 2006: one on August 2, 2006 in light of the Green Tree Agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon, and another one on July 31, 2008 (two days less than two years after the first declaration of independence). In the latter declaration, Akwa Obutong was declared the capital of the republic.
One of the first leaders of the organization, Tony Ene Asuquo
Tony Ene Asuquo
Chief Tony Ene Asuquo was a leader of the Bakassi Movement for Self-Determination, which seeks for the independence of Bakassi...
, died less than a month after the first declaration of independence in a mysterious car accident.
Support and affiliations
It has been indicated in both Nigerian and Cameroonian media that the BAMOSD is backed by the militant MENDMovement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta is one of the largest militant groups in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The organization claims to expose exploitation and oppression of the people of the Niger Delta and devastation of the natural environment by public-private partnerships...
movement, which opposes the federal government and the predominate petroleum industry in the Niger Delta, and the SCAPO, which seeks independence for the nearby Southern Cameroons
Southern Cameroons
Southern Cameroons was the southern part of the British Mandate territory of Cameroons in West Africa. Since 1961 it is part of the Republic of Cameroon, where it makes up the Northwest Province and Southwest Province...
as the Republic of Ambazonia
Ambazonia
The name Ambazonia or Ambazania refers to two separate entities. One pertains to an advocacy group struggling for the total restoration of the statehood of the Crown Colony formerly known as the British Southern Cameroons...
.
On 31 October 2008, gunmen in speedboats have kidnapped and threatened to kill 10 crew members from French oil tanker "Bourbon Sagitta" near the Bakassi Peninsula. The vessel's owners said those taken hostage were seven French nationals, two Cameroonians and a Tunisian. A group called Bakassi Freedom Fighters has claimed to have carried out the attack.
The leader of the group Ebi Dari told the BBC's Randy Joe Sa'ah in Cameroon that the Cameroonian government has seven days to enter into dialogue. He said the government had been warned many months ago that there would be no peace in Bakassi if it did not talk with the Bakassi Freedom Fighters. He said the group opposed the secession of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon from Nigeria.
Reuters news agency reported that the attack had been carried out jointly with a second group called Niger Delta Defence and Security Council (NDDSC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7701628.stm
On November 5, 2008, the commander of the militant group, Ebi Dari confirmed that one of the French hostages under its custody was killed in a failed rescue bid by Cameroonian soldiers. http://allafrica.com/stories/200811130086.html. However, then it was reported that the seafarer reported killed was still alive http://www.maritimeasia.net/ll/news/bourbon-sagitta-crew-all-fine-says-rebel-leader/1225972134917.htm;jsessionid=B176494E5B722234F0C14495C23CEF3E
On November 5, 2008 Groupe Bourbon announced that all its 10 crew members had been released. http://www.oilpubs.com/oso/article.asp?v1=7993