Another way in Nigeria? The Pursuit of Peace Across the Religious Divide

In its fifty one years of independence Nigeria has developed a reputation for entrepreneurship, great economic potential and being the home of internet scams.  More tragically, it is also seen as a place prone internal division, civil war, coups and political violence.

Unfortunately for Nigeria a reputation for armed conflict has been largely deserved. In April and May the county was rocked by violence when the electorate went to the polls. When the southern President Goodluck Jonathan was declared the winner many supporters of the northern challenger, Muhammadu Buharinow, suspected foul play and took to the streets in violent protests. In the ensuing violence hundreds were killed and thousands more displaced.

Last month the terrorist activities of Boko Haram in northern Nigeria are making the international headlines. Boko Haram aims to establish an Islamic government in Nigeria. It has carried out a number of attacks in the country including an attack on the national police station in Abuja and a drive by shooting on a beer hall in the town of Maiduguri. On Wednesday city authorities in Abuja were forced to impose a curfew in order to curb the activities of the extremist sect.

Attacks have been primarily carried out in the north- eastern states

In a society as divided as Nigeria is there any hope of creating lasting peace and a united nation? Can heterogeneous societies unite? Well yes. Peaceful nations can be built out of disparate groups. This is what the Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen argued in an address to The Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

 “The engagement through which we unite very often takes place through not emphasising where we differ but where we agree” Sen says.

In an article called “Peace and Democratic Society” Professor Sen identifies the importance of shared human identities and civil approaches for conflict resolution and prevention. He uses the example of Bangladesh, a fellow member of the Commonwealth.

Bangladesh is a secular country borne out of the violent division of the old British ruled India into India and Pakistan and then into the modern states of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Nonetheless, since gaining independence it has remained largely free from conflict. Sen argues that Bangladesh has been able to stay united by not discussing the differences between Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims but by emphasising things that all three groups in common (such as the Bengali language).

Sen goes on to add that dividing the world into civilisations based on religious beliefs leads to situations where people are not connected on the basis of anything shared, but are instead defined by their differences. Such a division, he argues, leads to tension between the differing states.

If the Boko Haram were to break away from Nigeria and form a state along Islamic lines would this cause a decline in violence? Or, following the argument of Sen, would it just turn an internal conflict into an international one as suspicion between a Nigerian Christian rump state and its new Islamic neighbour spills back over into war? Certainly where partition has taken place in the Africa in the past there has been, at best, a mixed record. Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been relatively cordial since their split in the nineties but the independence of South Sudan from the north is fraught with difficulties. Just last week the UN had to vote to supply peacekeepers for Abyei in order to bring about a stand down from the two opposing forces disputing the border town.

I think, on balance, genuine peace does have a chance in Nigeria if basic grievances are taken care of. People must be given a reason to have faith in the electoral process, must receive a fair share of the nation’s wealth and be moved above the poverty line. I also agree with the sentiments of Sen, national dialogue is important. Nigeria needs to find a common ground. This may not be religion or language, but there are always common threads that can unite a nation. As a county widely tipped to overtake South Africa as the continents biggest economy by 2025, perhaps the pure industry of the people can be a uniting force?

Henry Wilkinson, CHRI Africa

African Commonwealth Human Rights Weekly Update (18/06 - 01/07/2011)

The Gambia

Wednesday 29/06: Bloggers demand to know the fate of Chief Manneh

A number of foreign bloggers including those at Gambian Affairs are demanding to know about the fate of the Chief Manneh, a Daily Observer journalist who was last seen nearly five years ago on the 6 July 2006. Manneh was picked up by plain clothes Gambian security personnel from his office.

Journalists are regularly beaten, harassed and arrested for publishing articles that are critical of President Jammeh. Earlier in June Dr Amadou Scattered Janneh, a former Minister of Information and Communication, was charged with treason for allegedly distributing anti-Jammeh materials which demanded an end to the authoritarian rule of the president.

The case of Manneh has received much international attention. Senator Richard Durbin brought it to the attention of the US Senate in July 2008 whilst Amnesty International considers Manneh to be a prisoner of conscience and have been calling for his immediate release.

An ECOWAS court in 2008 ruled that Manneh should be released and that the Gambian authorities compensate him $100,000. Over three years on Gambia has yet to comply with these demands.

Nigeria

Wednesday 29/06: Night curfew in Abuja after Boko Haram Attacks

Nigeria’s capital is under a curfew in the wake of attacks by the bombings carried out by the Boko Haram. The city's administration said that parks and gardens that admit children should close at six p.m. whilst night clubs, beer halls, snooker clubs and cinemas should close by 10 p.m. The city also banned parking of vehicles on roads where most government offices are located.

Boko Haram is an organisation aims to establish an Islamic government in Nigeria. In the last few weeks it has carried out a number of bombings in northern Nigeria including a deadly an attack on the national police station in Abuja.

Commenting on The Boko Haram, General Ihejirika said, "Several unpatriotic Nigerians are aiding and abetting Boko Haram. That is why they thrive. Their aim is to intimidate people into exposing them. That is why they operate the way they do". (source AllAfrica.com)

Swaziland

Tuesday 28/06: No Bail out yet for Swaziland

South Africa denied reports on that it had approved a $1.2 billion bailout loan for Swaziland. CHRI has long being following events in the country and sent an official statement to the Commonwealth Secretariat in May about the country’s handling of protests.

Commenting on the speculated bailout the South African Treasury said: “While the South African government is in receipt of a loan request from Swaziland, as confirmed last week, no loan has been agreed to or granted to Swaziland” (Source Reuters)  

African Commonwealth Human Rights Weekly Update (11/06 - 17/06/2011)

Kenya

10/06/2011 – Humanitarian emergency as world’s biggest refugee camp runs out of room

Dadaab, a sprawling refugee camp in Kenya, has run out of space, Medicines Sans Frontiers has declared. Situated in the barren desert of Kenya’s north-eastern province, the camp’s population is expected to reach 450,000 by the end of the year.

Three years ago, the UN declared that the camp had no more room for new arrivals, but conflict and the worst drought in years have forced 44,000 Somalis to seek admittance into Dadaab since the beginning of this year.

The refugees – most of whom are women and children – arrive with no money, no food, no water and no shelter. 60% report illness on arrival, having walked through the desert for days. They are left without food or shelter in dry heat of 50C and are said to be vulnerable to attack by animals.

‘More refugees are on their way,’ Nenna Arnold, an MSF nurse, said. ‘We are already at bursting point, but the figures keep growing. This situation is a humanitarian emergency.’

Nigeria

17/06/2011 – Radical Islamist sect claims responsibility for suicide bombing

A radical Islamist sect has claimed responsibility for Nigeria's first suicide bombing, saying the attack that killed two at Abuja's police headquarters was aimed at Nigeria’s police chief.

The group, Boko Haram, stated ‘We are responsible for the bomb attack on the police headquarters in Abuja which was to prove a point to all those who doubt our capability.’

The group had threatened ‘fiercer’ attacks the day before the bombings, declaring their anger at a police declaration that its days were ‘numbered.’

Thursday’s powerful explosion ripped through the car park inside the police headquarters compound, killing a police officer and the bomber, wounding several others and destroying dozens of cars, according to police. The death toll is still to be confirmed.

The event was the first suicide bombing in Nigeria, a country of 150 million people facing a growing threat from Islamic militants. Levels of insecurity are already high in the country only weeks after President Goodwill Jonathan's election late April for his first full term.

Boko Haram, whose name means ‘Western education is sin’, launched an uprising in 2009 which was brutally repressed by the military, leaving hundreds dead. The group advocate for the creation of an Islamic state, and have been blamed for shootings of police and community leaders, bomb blasts and raids on churches, police stations and a prison.

Rwanda

16/06/2011 – Rwandan Parliament admitted to CPA

The Rwandan Parliament were officially admitted as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s 19^th member. Rwanda is hosting the 42^nd African CPA annual conference under the theme ‘Consolidation Growth and Development.’

Sessions will include issues of food security and sustainable livelihood, and the role of Parliament in mitigating the impact of genetically modified crops on poverty and food security. The agenda also covers the role of Parliaments in promoting democracy and good governance.

Uganda

16/06/2011 - Uganda's former vice president charged with fraud

Former vice-president Gilbert Bukenya has been charged with fraud.

He is accused of being responsible for the fraudulent procurement of luxury cars, which provided the transport for several heads of state during the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala.

Mr Bukenya chaired the cabinet team in charge of preparations for the event but denies that he benefited from the $3.9m deal.

The former vice president was sacked in May, as part of a reshuffle in the wake of February's elections.