Southern Cameroons and The United Nations Organisation

From Trusteeship to Independence. A Success Story?

Thesis (M.A.) , 2016 , 54 Pages , Grade: B1

Politics - Region: Africa

This paper takes a critical look at a particular aspect of the decolonization of the former Trust Territory of Southern Cameroons. It focuses on the role of the United Nations Organization (UNO) in the application of article 76 b of the UN Charter and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1608 XV of April 21 1961 on the Future of The Trust Territory of the Cameroons under the United Kingdom Administration. The work argues that the UNO, failed to supervise the proper transition of the Territory from a Trusteeship Province into an Independent or Self-Governing State as per the Charter and Resolutions provisions.

The paper examines the transition of the territory from 1954 when it gained quasi-regional autonomy, through the plebiscite, federation with the independent Republic of Cameroon from 1961 to 1972 when the two became a unitary state. The conduct of the Cameroun Republic thereafter, which in 1984, regained the name acquired at independence with the peoples and territory of Southern Cameroons now part of the State. This act it is argued was a logical obliteration of the identity of Southern Cameroons. It concludes that the decolonization failed with recommendations including a referral to the International Court of Justice.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Research question/ hypothesis
1.2 Backgroundtothe study
1.3 Relevance of the research
1.4 Scope of the research

2 CHAPTER TWO: SITUATING THE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS
2.1 Historical Facts
2.2 Termination of the Trusteeship Agreement over Southern Cameroons
2.2.1 UN Charter and Resolutions Provisions
2.3 No THIRD OPTION?

3 CHAPTER THREE: SOUTHERN CAMEROONS TRANSITION FROM 1954 TO 1972
3.1 The plebiscite in Southern Cameroons
3.2 CONDUCTOFTHE CAMEROUN REPUBLIC AFTER THE PLEBISCITE
3.3 The TERMINATION PROCESS CONTRASTED WITH OTHER TRUST TERRITORIES

4 CHAPTER FOUR: FROM LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN IN I960, TO LA REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN IN 1984
4.1 From Federal Republic in 1961 to United Republic in 1972
4.2 Southern Cameroons identity erased in 1984
4.3 End of UN Trusteeship Council 1994

5 CHAPTERFIVE: LEGALITY OF THE TRANSITION OF SOUTHERN CAMEROONS TO INDEPENDENCE OR SELF-GOVERNMENT
5.1 Legal justification for UN actions on Southern Cameroons
5.2 Principle of uti possidetis and the Republic Of Cameroon after the 1961 joining
5.3 The way forward

6 CHAPTER SIX: FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
6.1 Findings
6.1.1 Failure of the transition from trusteeship to Independence or Self-Government
6.1.2 Southern Cameroons as a 'People' under International law
6.2 Recommendations
6.2.1 Referral to the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
6.2.2 Internal SelfDetermination
6.2.2.1 Confederation
6.2.2.2 Federation
6.2.3 External self-determination
6.3 Conclusion

Word count: 10,720

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Table of case law
Table of Leg islation
Table of InternationalTreaties
Table of UNGA Resolutions
Table ofTrusteeship Council Resolutions
Table of UN Publications
Table Academic Books
Table ofJournalArticles
OtherSources

APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Map of Kamerun between 1901 -1916
Appendix 2: Map of Kamerun 1918
Appendix 3: Cameroon before and after the 1961 plebiscite
Appendix 4: Southern Cameroons in present day Republic of Cameroon
Appendix 5: The British handing over from the Southern Cameroons to the President of the Republic ofCameroun on the 30/09/1961

• College: University of Aberdeen
• Course: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW
• Grade: B1
• Author: Stanislaus Ajong (Author)
• Publication Year: 2016
• Pages: 54
• Catalog Number: V497465
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346013613
• ISBN (Book): 9783346013620
• Language: English
• Tags: southern, success, independence, trusteeship, from, organisation, nations, united, cameroons, story