The dispute over the Bakassi Peninsula between Nigeria and Cameroon may be nearing an end as Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Cameroon President Paul Biya meet in the US to try and settle the issue. The meeting is a continuation of efforts to reach an amicable understanding on bilateral interests, especially on the disputed oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula.

 
The meeting, held in New York, is the third time the two presidents have gathered together under the auspices of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan since the International Court of Justice at The Hague issued a judgment on the border dispute between the two countries. The previous two meetings between the two presidents were held in Geneva and Paris.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled in October 2000 that Nigeria should cede part of the oil-rich peninsula to Cameroon while the latter should cede part of Cameroon to Nigeria. Following the ruling the two countries formed a joint committee to implement the ruling of the court at The Hague to ease tension between them.