Yaounde & N’Djamena diplomatic row: Biya dispatches envoy, Ngoh Ngoh, to Chad.

The move engaged by President Biya is in line with efforts to resolve ongoing diplomatic row between the two neighbouring countries, in connection to some business deals relating to the Chad-Cameroon pipeline project. 

The special envoy of President Biya was received in audience by the Chadian leader yesterday. 

Minister Ngoh Ngoh was accompanied to the Chadian presidential palace by Cameroon’s Ambassador to Chad, Mohaman Sani Tanimou, and other officials of the Unity Palace who made up his delegation to the high profile meeting. 

Speaking after the high-level audience, Minister Ngoh Ngoh told reporters that the diplomatic cable between Yaounde and N’Djamena is fluid, with both leaders more than ever before determined to consolidate such brotherly ties. 

“I was sent by the Head of State of Cameroon, H.E Paul Biya, to his counterpart and brother, H.E Mahamat Idriss Derby. I was bearer of a message of friendship, of brotherhood and I can assure you that I was warmly received…,” Ngoh Ngoh told reporters after the audience.

The special emissary of President Biya added that: “The deep-seated relations between Cameroon and Chad that have always been excellent will remain so. The two Heads of State will continue to work together to strengthen these relations for the welfare of their states and their peoples”.

"As I just said, it is not for me to reveal the details of the exchanges the Head of State accorded me but I can assure you that all the questions were discussed and certain misunderstandings were addressed,” Ngoh Ngoh said.

President Paul Biya’s envoy concluded by stating categorically that: “There is really no cloud between Cameroon and Chad”.

Revisiting roots of diplomatic row 

In a note made public April 20, the Minister of State, Secretary General at Chad’s Presidency, Dr Gali Ngothe Gaita, had informed the world that it had recalled its Ambassador to Yaounde to protect Chad’s interest.

Dr Gali Ngothe, in the note, explained that his country was not comfortable with the schemes of Cameroonian personalities to acquire the shares of petroleum giant, ExxonMobil, through a subsidiary of the company, Savannah Energy, which he said his country considers as “nebulous”.

It should be noted that ExxonMobile, Chad and Cameroon were the three main actors in the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline project but ExxonMobil had put up its shares for sale and quit the pipeline deal in 2021. 

The sold shares have now become a point of discord.

Beyond Cameroon, Chad also said there are personalities from other African countries who are behind Savannah Energy.

The Chadian Minister said his country only learnt, through the media, of the signing of a convention; indicating that Savannah Energy had sold 10 percent of its shares to the National Hydrocarbons Corporation, SNH. 

The country of the late Idriss Derby Itno claims they were not informed and that the deal didn’t follow the statutes of the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company, COTCO.

Chad is also faulting Cameroon for being the only country in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC, that has not responded to its request to buy over the assets of Malaysian energy group, Petronas, on its soil. 

This, the letter noted, is supposed to have been done in line with the requirement of CEMAC’s Community Competitiveness Council.

“More than one month after, it is only Cameroon that has not responded to a request demanding a non-objection letter sent by CEMAC, to Trade Ministers of all member countries. The letter is important for the convening of the CEMAC Community Competitiveness Council in line with the regulations in force,” partly read the note signed by Dr Gali Ngothe. 

The note further explained that Chad decided to withdraw its Ambassador after what it describes as repeated provocation from Cameroon and its representatives within CEMAC institutions that have been frustrating documents from Chad.

“Chad has found itself in a situation where it has the obligation to defend its interests and respectability and denounce the actions of Cameroon and its representatives…,” the note from Chadian Presidency detailed.

The note concluded that: “Consequently, Chad has decided to recall its Ambassador to Cameroon for consultation”. The note also indicated that the country had explored all diplomatic avenues to address concerns raised with Yaounde but all attempts were fruitless.

Understanding the conflict 

The Chad-Cameroon Pipeline, covering a distance of a little over 1,000 kilometres, eases the exportation of crude oil from Chad, a landlocked country, through Kribi in the South Region to the global market. 

Chad manages the pipeline on its soil which is incorporated as Chad Oil Transportation Company, TOTCO. Meanwhile, the portion of the pipeline in Cameron is incorporated as the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company, COTCO.

When ExxonMobile sold its 40 percent shares in the deal last year, Chad opted for a visional to nationalise the assets. Experts say opening up the venture for external investment could be viewed by Chad, which owns all the oil, as a potential threat.