The fourth ad hoc session for identifying and demarcating the border between the two countries ended in Yaounde on July 23.

The Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation (MINATD), René Emmanuel Sadi, on July 23, chaired the fourth ad hoc session in charge of identifying and demarcating the Cameroon-Chad border with the presentation of an outlined programme of activities, which will end with the recruitment of an international consultant.

Experts at the meeting recommended that the governments of Cameroon and Chad should hire the services of experts with proven records in border demarcation.

Given that border issues are complex and can lead to conflicts between States, committee members after screening, proposed some companies and international bodies that have worked on border demarcation to Cameroon and Chad.

A calendar of activities as follow-up to the effective implementation of recommendations of the session was submitted to both governments.

Experts proposed an extra-ordinary session in N’djamena, Chad next September and the eventual launch of tenders for the recruitment of the consultant.

MINATD boss, René Emmanuel Sadi, said History and Geography have condemned Cameroon and Chad to live together and both countries are indeed living like brother and sister.

Presidents Paul Biya and Idriss Deby have on many occasions proved to the world that ties between both countries go beyond sharing borders, he noted.

Cognizant that land issues have on several occasions in many countries incited tension, René Emmanuel Sadi stressed that Cameroon has always settled land issues with its neighbours amicably.

The Chadian delegation leader, Beade Jérémie Dionra, reassured Cameroon of his government’s commitment to the recommendations as both countries seek to have their land frontiers identified and mapped out.

Dionra and Cameroon’s team leader, Gregoire Mvongo, affixed signatures on the final communiqué that will be submitted to the two governments.

Earmarked for demarcation are the newly constructed road between Ngaoundere and Touboro, right to Moundou in Chad, the new bridge connecting N’Djamena in Chad to Kousseri in the Logone and Chari Division of the Far North Region, and the rail road from Ngaoundere to N’Djamena, the Chadian capital.