Cameroon has used its straight baseline system to enclose a series of
indentations on its northern coast, south of the Nigerian border (see
Fig. 5.19). Segments 1-2 and 8-9 appear to enclose bays which meet
the semi-circle test of Article 7. Segments 3-4, 5-6, 6–7, and 7-8,
however, enclose mere curvatures. These baselines do not enclose
juridical bays, nor are they valid as straight baselines because such
shallow local indentations do not qualify the coast as deeply indented
or cut-into. The waters enclosed are no more closely linked to the land
domain than if the coast were totally unindented in those localities.
Thus, their enclosure violates the rationale which underlies all internal
water claims whether under Article 7 (LOSC Article I 0) or Article 4
(LOSC Article 7). The remainder of the coast on the Bight of Biafra,
from the River Bimbia to the border with Equatorial Guinea (not
pictured here) is completely smooth. Appropriately, the baseline in
that area returns to the low-water mark.
