GENERAL INTRODUCTION

THE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.1 The Scientific justification of the research

Cameroon and Chad are two neighboring countries in the central African sub region that enjoy brotherly and bilateral ties established in 1960 upon independence.  They both share a land and maritime boundary around the Lake Chad Basin. Since the rise of terrorist threats the sub region, both countries jointly engage in the fight against menaces posed by Boko Haram. The Chad – Cameroon Mixed commission has met for 23 times in 49 years making it the most extensive at the bilateral level between Cameroon and any other nation. In the economic sector, Chad that is a landlocked country depends essentially on Cameroon’s seaports particularly the port of Douala which is the point of entry and exit of Chadian imports and Exports. The extensive Chad Cameroon pipeline is another major project that illustrates the strength of the relations between Yaoundé and Ndjamena. At forefront of the implementation of the free movement of people and goods with the CEMAC sub region, the institution of a CEMAC passport amongst other initiatives to enhance sub regional integration. The diplomatic levels, President Paul Biya of Cameroon and Idriss Deby Itnoof Chad have paid several officials visits to their respective countries. Cameroon and Chad are two state that have enjoyed friendly relation. The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC /ECFR) are made up of six States: Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, the Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea. With a total population of about 37 million, it covers a total surface of around 3 million km2.Together with the larger Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the mainly inactive Economic Community of Great Lake Countries (CEPGL), CEMAC presents one of the Central African Regional Communities established to promote cooperation and exchange among its members. In the context of a general revival of regional cooperation on the African continent during the 1990’s, Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea decided to give new impetus to their regional economic cooperation. They agreed to replace by a new regional Community the largely neglected customs union, the Union Douanière des Etats de l’Afrique centrale (UDEAC), they had established following their independence in the 1960’s.The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) were created in 1994 and became operational after the treaty’s ratification in 1999.The resumption of regional cooperation in Central Africa implied a general review of UDEAC’s agenda and objectives and adaptation to the regional and global context. It also included an institutional restructuring and the creation of new common bodies. In line with most other regional organizations on the African continent that followed the so called “second wave of regionalization” in the 1990’s, the newly restructured Central African Community was given a more open and democratic image. The creation of a common Court of Justice and a Parliamentary Assembly was supposed to give additional dynamic and transparency to the regionalization process. A major concern was to avoid new deadlocks and bottlenecks similar to those that had slowed or interrupted the previous regionalization efforts. However, whereas in other regional communities on the African continent, such as ECOWAS, 0SADC or EALA, regional Parliamentary Assemblies have already started to work, the setup of the CEMAC Parliament is still in a state of preparation. Despite several repeatedly fixed deadlines, the Assembly is not operational and it regains nuclear Went it will start to work. CEMAC is often presented as a rater Young organization created in 1994 and operational sine the ratification of the treaties by all six members in 1999. However, the historical roots of this regionalization process can be trace back to the early postcolonial or event colonial period.

2. Reason for the choice of our research topic, scientific and social

The reason for  chosen this topic is for multiple but specifically scientific and personal reasons, moreover my passion as a historian to understand the diplomatic content of operation between Cameroon and her diplomatic representatives in Chad, and to unveil and have a good understanding of how Cameroon foreign policy is being conducted in Chad and the central Africa republic giving the fact that Chad is an inland country, and all her trading activities is done through Cameroon and also to know more on the Chad Cameroon pipe line and finally  to know the leadership position of Cameroon as far as the central Africa sub-region is concern and how it can be helpful to Chad and how Chad can intend help Cameroon in the field of military in order to stabilized the sub-region and to fight against insecurity in the region.

3. 3. Scientific and Social Reasons

            From the scientific point of view, the choice of this topic in which we carried out a Masters Dissertation research on was with the desire to increase or give contribution to African historiography because we came to realized that, there are limited documents written on the diplomatic relations between Cameroon and Chad especially in the field of trade. Thus most documents at times have focused on the central Africa sub region and Africa relations from colonial times and recent periods, others likewise have based their relations on economic importance but as for me what am concerns is typically diplomatic relations with its contribution on the aspect of environment social context like good governance infrastructural development and economic development and a host of others from 1960-2023. This shows a changing patterns whereby both countries got their independence from France as their colonial master, not long from there they came the two rival blocks in 1964 that is the Casablanca block and the Monrovian block, this revival blocks had their own ideology on Africa unity whereby the Monrovian block wanted a gradual process towards Africa unity whereas the Casablanca block supported by Kwame Nkrumah wanted a radical approach towards Africa unity to 1982 where will saw the change of leadership in Cameroon and constitutional development also change, to 1990 with the fall of the cold war in Europe that also affected Cameroon relation with Chad as their linage also change from non-alignment. And finally contemporary times to 2019. Which led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent end of the cold War, so as a student as option of studies history of international relations, I am going to elaborate on this topic with more precisions on the diplomatic grounds basing my analyses on the different axis of cooperation. More to the above all the social context it will be very important to note on the nature of Chad during the period of the cold war and how it was segmented into four belligerents under two diplomatic canopies that are capitalism and communism. And as the social reasons entails at the end of our work we shall surely come to understand some elements of Cameroons – Chad diplomatic relations as we unfold with our topic. So as we leave from the reason of our topic we no

1.2.2 Spatial and Temporal Framework

For us to better carry out our work on our research topic talking about the changing patterns of Cameroon diplomatic relations with central Africa sub-region and wind wind relationship with Chad in particular from 1960-2023. We are therefore going to give a proper demarcation on the spatial and temporal framework of our topic as will be seen below.

1.2.3 Spatial Framework

The spatial framework of our topic is based on Cameroon central Africa sub-region and Chad in particular, thus Cameroon a country found in the African continent , precisely in the central Africa , Cameroon is therefore a Central African State that lies inland to the North East of the Gulf of Guinea bounded to the South West by Equatorial Guinea, the South by Gabon, the South East by Congo and the Northwest by Nigeria covering a total area of 475,442 Km² with an estimated population of about 25million people^[1]. She got her independence in January 1960 and finally reunified with the English part in October 1961.   Between the west and east. That is France, Britain, United States of America and the united socialist Soviet Union in the east. Notwithstanding the above explanation Germany has a long history with Cameroon since she was her former colonial master before she was ousted during the first world by Britain and France. So for better comprehension the diplomatic history of Cameroon-Chad has being enriched by numerous factors which are recorded both In the personal archives of the ministry of external relations of Cameroon, in certain flagship diplomatic representation and in other places 

1.2.4 Temporal Framework

It should however being noted that even though Cameroon has started  with diplomatic relations with other central Africa sub-region and Chad in particular after her independence , she has however since 1960 engaged in a meaningful diplomatic relations with central Africa sub-region and Chad, so accordingly the reasons for us chosen this time frame of our work dates back from the signing of the navigator investment treaty between Cameroon  and central Africa sub region and Chad in particular which mark the start of a new Era in the history of this  nations  so the year chosen 1960 was the year that marks Cameroon  meaningful diplomatic relation with the nations  of central Africa sub region in particular Chad “republic of Chad” . Cameroon keeps its efficient follow-up policy with its traditional partners. The trips of President PAUL BIYA abroad and the audiences he granted to many foreign personalities in Yaoundé is proof of the close relationship he has with his foreign counterparts. In the light of these, many contact and the fruits they yield. It is evident that Yaounde’s foreign policy, carried out with patience and determination by President P[AUL BIYA, enables Cameroon to establish confident and fruitful relationships with many countries. It is for this reason that the president was very involved during Omar Bongo Ondimba funeral in 2009.This event created a lot of tension in Libreville, as the transitional period saw friction and open disagreement between members of the ruling party. It is in recognition of his role of stabilizer and well-wisher that even before taking office, president elect, Ali Bongo, reserved his first official visit out of Gabon to Paul Biya, a head of State recognized and saluted across Africa and the world for his wisdom. Other leaders and high personalities do not hesitate to come and draw inspiration from this great source. It is in this respect that in late 2009, PAUL BIYA.received his Chadian and Central African counterparts, Idriss Deby and Francois Bozizé Yangouvouda respectively, at the Unity Palace. These consultations fall within the framework of a permanent dialogue between countries united.

The reason for us choosing 2023, is very significant as far as this Diplomatic relation is concern between Cameroon and Chad. 2023 marks the Era in which the Chadians had to put forth a new Diplomatic relation with the coming of the new president in place, Idriss Deby. Furthermore, this time frame is very important as far as this work is concern because it was the period of the outbreak of the deathly flow called CORONA VIRUS. President PAULL BIYAof Cameroon (the wise man of Africa) did everything possible to control the virus and her neighbors enjoyed her expertise. So it was evidence for us to use this date 2023.

1.2.6 Conceptual and Theoretical Framework

We need a small introduction here

Conceptual frame work

As prelude to our study, it is most essential that certain terms and concept be giving their required meaning for purposes of better understanding or for a proper comprehension of notions like diplomatic relations, changing and patterns, thus we can say that diplomacy is the signing of treaties and accords with other sovereign nations in the international system guided by international laws and principles. There are several types of diplomatic relations such as public diplomacy that deals with the signing of treaties between a nation or nations and the general public, economic diplomacy deals with the economics. Bilateral diplomacy, it involves the signing of treaties or treaty between an independent nation and another. The treaty that signed between Cameroon and Germany on the 12 of July 1884 was called the Germano-Douala treaty signed by Douala chiefs and the German representative Dr. Gustav Nachtigal. helped to surrender the Cameroon sovereignty to the German king. 

Diplomacy according to Henry Kissinger book is fundamental about power. It is relevant to our work because it shows the link between man and his society as we see in the case with the Germano-Douala treaty, 

[1] International Crisis Group: “Cameroon a Fragile State?” Africa Report N° 160, 2010, p .1.