NIGERIAN PEACEKEEPING MISSION UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL FROM 1960 TO 2010: A STUDY OF SIERRA LEONE
ATTENTION:
BEFORE YOU READ THE ABSTRACT OR CHAPTER ONE OF THE PROJECT TOPIC
BELOW, PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW.THANK YOU!
INFORMATION:
YOU CAN GET THE COMPLETE PROJECT OF THE TOPIC BELOW. THE FULL
PROJECT COSTS N10,000 ONLY. THE FULL INFORMATION ON HOW TO PAY AND GET THE
COMPLETE PROJECT IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. OR YOU CAN CALL: 08068231953,
08168759420
NIGERIAN PEACEKEEPING MISSION UNDER
THE
AUSPICES OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
FROM
1960 TO 2010: A STUDY OF SIERRA
LEAONE
ABSTRACT
The study
examines the historical development of Nigerian peacekeeping mission under the
auspices of the United Nations Security Council from 1960 to 2009 using Sierra
Leone as a case study. Furthermore, it discusses the concept, nature and
general principles of peacekeeping; examined the foreign policy objectives of
Nigeria in relation to her peacekeeping mission; examine the contributions of
Nigerian peacekeeping mission to the installment of peace and stability in
Sierra Leone between 1991 and 2000; and review the major challenges facing
Nigeria peacekeeping mission. Historical research method was employed in this
study. Both primary and secondary source materials were used by the researcher.
The study established that Nigeria’s peacekeeping mission has been beneficial
to the country especially in the projection of her public diplomacy and foreign
power abroad.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Historical Background
The history of Nigerian
peacekeeping mission began in 1960 when she joined the United Nations.1
Since then, Nigeria has been unequivocally committed to the goals, principles
and objectives of the United Nations. This is evident in her contributions
towards the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security. Beginning with the Mission in the Republic of
Congo in 1960,2 Nigerian armed battalions have meritoriously served
in many UN regional peacekeeping missions around the world.
Thus, between 1960 and
2010, Nigeria has been actively involved in various ways in the struggle
against disintegration of
the African continent. This made her to champion the establishment of the
Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS (1975)], the
OrganizatioPEACEKEEPINGn of African Unity [OAU (1963), now AU (2001)], the
Non-Aligned Movement, and other organizations concerned with bringing peace to
regions and peoples across the world.3
Moreover, Nigeria contributed significant financial
backing, troops and resources that made ECOMOG’s creation possible. Nigeria
also spearheaded the military and diplomatic engagements to restore and
maintain peace in Congo, Liberia, Sudan, Sierra Leone and a host of others
countries. In particular, Nigeria’s
reputation as a regional stabilizer, conciliator, and peace builder in the West
African sub-region – using the Sierra Leone peacekeeping experience, remains
unmatched.4
Nigeria’s positive and
successful intervention in the Sierra Leonean civil war and the restoration of
democracy under the auspices of the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) and also
the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone(UNMSIL) makes Nigeria to be a major
player towards global peace, security and
stability.
Nigeria’s long-term chairmanship of
the UN Special Committee against Apartheid; and its leadership of peacekeeping
missions in Chad (1979-82), Liberia (1990-98), Sierra Leone (1991-2000), Guinea
Bissau (1998-00) and Cotê d’Ivoire (2000-Date) are all reflections of its
commitment and role to peace building, peace keeping, and conflict resolution.
Focusing on Nigeria
peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone under the auspices of the United Nations,
this research looks at the Sierra Leonean crisis and Nigeria’s intervention in
installing peace, first, through ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) and later
through United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone(UNMSIL). The research interest
is basically on the contributions of Nigeria to peacekeeping mission around the
regions of the world using
Sierra
Leone as a case study.
Nigeria: Land and the
People
Nigeria is an amalgam of
ancient Kingdoms, Caliphates, Empires and City-states with a long history of
organised societies. Its boundaries were drawn as a result of trade (from
slavery to pepper or ivory) and overseas territorial ambitions of Western European
powers in the 19 th century. The name Nigeria was adopted in 1898 to designate
the British Protectorates on the River
Niger.5
Some scholars contend that Nigeria contains more
historic cultures and empires than any other nation in Africa.6 The
history of the Nigerian people extends backward in time for some three
millennia. Archaeological evidence, oral traditions, and written documentation
establish the existence of dynamic societies and well-developed political
systems whose history had an important influence on colonial rule and has
continued to shape independent Nigeria. Nigerian history is fragmented in the
sense that it evolved from a variety of traditions, but many of the most
outstanding features of modern society reflect the strong influence of the
three regionally dominant ethnic groups--the Hausa in the north, the Yoruba in
the west, and the Igbo in the east.7
Geographically, Nigeria is located in
western Africa on the
Gulf of Guinea and has a total area
of 923,768 km2 (356,669 sq mi),8 Nigeria borders
the Gulf of Guinea
(bights of Benin and Biafra) in the south; Cameroon in the east, Chad in the
northeast, Niger in the north, and Benin
to the west.9 The topography have five major geographic divisions:
low coastal zone along Gulf of Guinea; succeeded northward by hills and low
plateaus; Niger-Benue river valley; broad stepped plateau stretching to
northern border with highest elevations over 1,200 meters; mountainous zone
along eastern border, which includes country's highest point (2,042
meters).10
Historically speaking, all evidence suggests the early
settlement of Nigeria as early as 10, 000 years old due to a fossil skeleton
with negroid features found at Ileru in western Nigeria.11 The earliest culture in Nigeria to be
identified by its distinctive artifacts is that of the Nok people (400 B.C-200
A.D.)12. Other historical developments in pre-colonial Nigeria
include the Yoruba kingdoms of Ifẹ and Oyo in southwestern Nigeria
which became prominent in the 12th
and 14th century respectively.13 In the northern
part of the country, Kano and Katsina has recorded history dating back to
around 999. Hausa kingdoms and the Kanem-Bornu Empire prospered as trade posts
between North and West Africa.14 The Kingdom of Nri of the Igbo
people started in the 10th century until it lost its sovereignty to the British
in 1911. It is the oldest kingdom in Nigeria.15
In the 1800s, the British started to reside in parts
of these kingdoms and empires. In 1914, Nigeria was formed by combining the
Northern and Southern Protectorates and the Colony of Lagos. Between 1914 and
1922, Nigeria was presided over by a GovernorGeneral. In 1922, as part of the
constitution of the time, the British introduced the principle of direct
election into the Legislative council.16
In 1951, a new
constitution elevated the provinces to regional status. The National Council of
Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) had control of the Eastern Region
government, the Northern Peoples
Congress (NPC) had control of the Northern Region, and the Action Group (AG)
had control of the Western Region. By 1957, the Eastern and Western Regions
attained self-governing status. In 1959, the Northern Region attained self-governing
status.
On October 1 1960,
Nigeria obtained it's independence. At this time, Northern and Southern
Cameroon were given the option of staying as part of Nigeria or leaving
Nigeria. Southern Cameroon decided to leave Nigeria, but Northern Cameroon
stayed. 17
Also, on October 7, 1960, Nigeria was
admitted to the United
Nations as the 99th member.18
One of the earliest and most signification contributions to the UN was to
furnish troops for the peacekeeping operating in Zaire in the early 1960s.
Later on, the main thrust of Nigeria's activism on the world stage was to
promote peace, maintain stability and peacekeeping as witnessed in Sierra Leone
in 1999.
Timeline of Nigerian
history shows that the country too has undergo series of internal crisis such
as Census Crisis, coups and counter coups, civil war, religious crisis, ethnic
conflicts, etc. However, despite these crises, Nigeria still grows stronger and
remains the backbone for peace operations in the African subregion.
Sierra Leone: Land and
the People
The Republic of Sierra
Leone is a country in west Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and
east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and
southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of 71,740 km2 (27,699 sq
mi)19 and has a population
estimated at 6.5 million. It began as an independent colony under the auspices
of the Sierra Leone Company on March 11th 1792 and became a British colony in
1808.20 Sierra Leone is now a
constitutional republic comprising three provinces and the Western Area; which
are further divided into fourteen districts.
The country has a tropical climate,
with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforests. Freetown is
the capital, largest city and economic center. The other major cities are Bo,
Kenema,
Koidu Town and Makeni.20
Sierra Leone is rich in
mineral resources, possessing some of the rarest and most valuable mineral
types in the world, many of which are found in significant quantities. The
country has relied on mining, especially diamonds, for its economic base; it is
among the Top 10 diamond producing nations in the world, and mineral exports
remain the main foreign currency earner. Sierra Leone is also among the largest
producers of titanium and bauxite, and a major producer of gold. The country
has one of the world's largest deposits of rutile. 21
Historically, early inhabitants of
Sierra Leone included the
Sherbro, Temne and Limba, and Tyra peoples, and later the
Mende22 who knew the country
as Romarong, and the Kono who settled in the east of the country. In 1462, it was visited by the Portuguese
explorer Pedro da Cintra, who dubbed it Serra de Leão, meaning "Lion
Mountains".23
Sierra Leone later became an important centre of the
transatlantic trade in slaves until March 11th 1792 when Freetown was founded
by the Sierra Leone Company as a home for formerly enslaved African Americans.
In 1808, Freetown became a British Crown Colony, and in 1896, the interior of
the country became a British Protectorate in 1961, the two combined and gained
independence.24
The Sierra Leone Civil
War began in 1991 and resolved in 2000 after the Nigerian-led United Nations
troops were heavily reinforced by a British force and other peacekeeping forces.
The Objectives of the
Study
The
objectives of this study are to:
i. Discuss the concept, nature and general principles of
peacekeeping ii. Examine the foreign policy objectives of Nigeria in relation
to her peacekeeping mission iii.
Discuss the history of
Nigeria’s participation in peacekeeping mission under the auspices of the
United Nations Security Council up to year 2010 with focus on the
Sierra Leonean Civil War iv. Examine the contributions of Nigerian peacekeeping mission to
the installment of peace and stability in Sierra Leone between 1991 and 2000
v. Review the major challenges facing
Nigeria peacekeeping mission
Statement of the
Problem
While efforts have been made by some
scholars to document Nigerian peacekeeping missions, much is yet to be covered
on the challenges facing Nigerian peacekeeping under the auspices of the UN
Security Council. That is why this research is set to examine Nigeria
peacekeeping mission under the auspices of the UN
Security
Council using Sierra Leone as case study.
Literature Review
There is plethora of
works on peacekeeping missions especially those relating to the United Nations.
However, much is yet to be documented on Nigeria peacekeeping mission in the
African region. To make this research meaningful and organized, the review of
literature is in two parts: first is the review of works
on the UN peacekeeping mission and
secondly, review of literature of Nigerian peacekeeping mission between 1960
and
2010.
Reviewing works on UN peacekeeping
shows that
peacekeeping has proven to be one of
the most effective tools available to the UN to assist host countries navigate
the difficult path from conflict to peace.
For instance, M. R. Berdal and S. Economides, United
Nations interventionism, 1991-2004,25
makes a good review
as it analyses the nature of peacekeeping and the guiding principles of UN
peacekeeping. M. R. Berdal and S. Economides
noted that
UN peacekeeping has
unique strengths, including legitimacy, burden sharing, and an ability to
deploy and sustain troops and police from around the globe, integrating them
with civilian peacekeepers to advance multidimensional mandates. Moreover, UN
Peacekeepers provide security and the political and peace building support to
help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.
While UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles, Consent of the
parties; Impartiality; and Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence
of the mandate.
While M. R. Berdal and S.
Economides gives one a general background to UN peacekeeping mission, it does
not attempt to chronicle UN peacekeeping mission since its foundation.
Nevertheless, it did not touch basic areas of peacekeeping that this research
benefits from.
D. S. Sorenson and P.
C.Wood The politics of peacekeeping in the post-cold war era,26 looked at peacekeeping not only as a means to maintain peace and
security, but also to facilitate the political process, protect civilians,
assist in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former
combatants; support the organization of elections, protect and promote human
rights and assist in restoring the rule of law. The work highlights the majors
peacekeeping mission of the UN which are currently 15 UN peace operations
deployed on four continents. Attention
is not given to specific peacekeeping missions such as the United Nations
Mission in Sierra Leone which faults the work as over generalizing peacekeeping
research.
Another important work is
G. Marrack The Evolution of United Nations Peacekeeping27
which
provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of UN peacekeeping. United
Nations peacekeeping, according to Marrack was initially developed during the
Cold War as a means of resolving conflicts between states by deploying unarmed
or lightly armed military personnel from a number of countries, under UN
command, to areas where warring parties were in need of a neutral party to
observe the peace process. Peacekeepers could be called in when the major
international powers (the five permanent members of the Security Council)
tasked the UN with bringing closure to conflicts threatening regional stability
and international peace and security. These included a number of so-called
"proxy wars" waged by client states of the superpowers. As of
February 2009, there have been 63 UN peacekeeping operations since 1948. While
Marrack has tried to chronicle the UN peacekeeping missions since 1948, The Evolution of United Nations
Peacekeeping did not
critically examine the causes of the wars leading to the need for peacekeeping.
The second part of the
review deals with review of literature on Nigerian peacekeeping mission between
1960 and 2010.
J.K. Muhammad The
Role of Nigeria in Peace Building, Conflict Resolution, and Peacekeeping since
196028 chronicles Nigeria’s effort at peacekeeping
since 1960. To Muhammad, Nigeria’s effort at peace building has been predicated principally on the pursuit of domestic security through the promotion of peaceful relations between herself and neighbours, and between
neighbours themselves. It is against
this background that Nigeria’s role in
peace building across Africa should be examined. Nigeria strives to put its neighbours at
ease and attempts to stave off problems that
could arise especially over inherited colonial boundaries by
establishing bilateral agreements as the
case of relations with Equatorial Guinea since 1988 demonstrate. The dominant role in the mediation of the
crises between Liberia and Sierra Leone,
Burkina Faso and Mali, and Togo and Ghana are some of the clearest
indications of this peace building role However, Muhammad did not focus his
attention on one particular
peacekeeping effort that Nigeria
carried out such as that of Sierra Leone.
J. D.Chinade, Nigeria
and the United Nations: The Past, the
Present and The Future 29 presents a lucid explanation of Nigeria’s involvement
in the UN peacekeeping and argues for the inclusion of Nigeria in the permanent
member of the security council. It traces the active roles played by Nigeria in
installing peace in war torn zones and in building peace among African states.
This work, though logical in its presentation is not adequate to analyzing
Nigeria’s involvement in peacekeeping mission under the auspices of the UN
Security Council.
A. Adebajo, Building
peace in West Africa: Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau30 , is generally regarded as authority
in Nigeria peacekeeping. Much of
Nigeria’s involvements in peacekeeping operations have been carried out under
the UN umbrella. But it has done the same under ECOWAS (ECOMOG), and lately
under the African Union. According to Adebajo, though involvement in
peacekeeping operations is about as old as Nigeria, it is shocking that fifty
years after, the nation is just making efforts to develop a full-fledged policy
on peacekeeping. While Adebajo’s work makes a good background for this study.
Generally, some of the
peace initiatives that Nigeria have been involved in includes: Congo (ONUC)
1960-1964, Battalion operations; New Guinea (UNSF) 1962-1963, Military
Observers; Tanzania (Bilateral agreement) 1964, Battalion operations;
IndiaPakistan (UNIPOM) 1965-1966, Military Observers; Lebanon
(UNIFIL) 1978-1983, Battalion
operations and Staff Officers; Chad (HARMONY I, bilateral agreement) 1981-1982,
Battalion operations and Staff Officers; Chad (HARMONY II, OAU) 19821983,
Brigade operations; Iran-Iraq (UNIIMOG) 1988-1991,
Military Observers; Liberia (ECOMOG)
1990- Division (-) operations; Iraq-Kuwait (UNIKOM) 1991, Military Observers;
Angola (UNAVEM II) 1991-1992, Military Observers; Sierra Leone
(NATAG)
1991, Training Team; Angola (UNAVEM III) 1992-1995,
Detachment;
Namibia (UNTAG) 1989-1990, Military Observers;
Western
Sahara (MINURSO) 1991, Military Observers; Cambodia
(UNTAC)
1992- 1993, Military Observers; Somalia (UNOSOM)
1992-1994, Battalion operations and
Staff Officers; Former Republic of Yugoslavia (UNPROFOR) 1992, Battalion
operations and Staff Officers; Mozambique (ONUMOZ) 1992 Military Observers;
Rwanda (UNAMIR) 1993, Battalion operations;
Gambia
(NATAG) 1993, Training Team; Aouzo Strip (UNASOG)
1994, Military Observers; Israel
(UNTSO) 1995, Military Observers; Liberia – ECOMOG; Sierra Leone – UNMIL; and
Dafur peace
initiative.
Scope of the Study
This study intends to cover Nigerian
peacekeeping missions up to year 2010. It looks at the concept of peacekeeping,
nature of peacekeeping and evolution of the UN peacekeeping mission visà-vis
Nigerian peacekeeping efforts in the various peacekeeping initiatives of the
UN. However, due to the complex nature of the study area (1960 to 2010),
special attention is given to Nigerian peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone and
will not cover all the major peacekeeping efforts of Nigeria. The study
therefore looks at the various capacities where Nigeria have served to
transformed war torn regions into peaceful areas under the auspices of the UN
Security
Council using Sierra Leon as a case study.
Significance of the
Study
This study
is very important for certain reasons.
First, it historicizes
Nigeria peacekeeping mission since 1960 thereby shedding more right on the
dynamics that characterized Nigeria foreign policy objectives on her African
neighbours.
Secondly, it is useful to
scholars especially diplomatic historians, political scientists, economists,
international relations students and peace experts in their research.
Thirdly, this research
work will help in providing information on the domestic factors that has been
influencing Nigeria peacekeeping mission since Independence.
Finally, the political
and military class will learn, through this study, the need for them to be
patriotic in keeping Nigeria’s arrow head in the international arena. Apart
from the personal satisfaction which this study will give the researcher, I
hope that it will be a source of reference to other researchers in similar
area.
Research Methodology
This study will make use of findings from both
primary and secondary sources. The primary sources include written documents
such as official government publications, letters, correspondence,
documentaries and newspapers. Added to these are descriptive accounts of some
Nigerians who participated in the peacekeeping operation during the Sierra
Leone Civil War. Interviews will also be conducted with those considered
authorities in the field of History, Political Science and International
Relations to complement the other sources.
Furthermore, this research work depends
largely on archival materials both online and offline - visiting office of the
United Nations here in Nigeria to gather relevant materials on the study.
Official publications published on the websites will also be used in
interpreting the events and actions of actors that were involved in the
peacekeeping process in Sierra Leone.
Books, journal articles, conference
proceedings, seminar papers and other related publications will be used in
gathering secondary information for this research.
HOW TO GET THE FULL PROJECT WORK
PLEASE, print the following
instructions and information if you will like to order/buy our complete written
material(s).
HOW TO RECEIVE PROJECT
MATERIAL(S)
After paying the appropriate
amount (#10,000) into our bank Account below, send the following information to
08068231953 or 08168759420
(1)
Your project topics
(2)
Email Address
(3)
Payment Name
(4)
Teller Number
We
will send your material(s) after we receive bank alert
BANK ACCOUNTS
Account
Name: AMUTAH DANIEL CHUKWUDI
Account
Number: 0046579864
Bank:
GTBank.
OR
Account
Name: AMUTAH DANIEL CHUKWUDI
Account
Number: 2023350498
Bank:
UBA.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL:
08068231953 or 08168759420
https://projectmaterialsng.blogspot.com.ng/
https://foreasyprojectmaterials.blogspot.com.ng/
https://mypostumes.blogspot.com.ng/
https://myeasymaterials.blogspot.com.ng/
https://eazyprojectsmaterial.blogspot.com.ng/
https://easzprojectmaterial.blogspot.com.ng/
Comments
Post a Comment