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General Relations
Since independence, Nigerian foreign policy has been characterized by a focus on Africa and by attachment to several fundamental principles: African unity and independence; peaceful settlement of disputes; non-alignment and nonintervention in the internal affairs of other nations; and regional economic cooperation and development. In carrying out these principles, Nigeria participates in the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations.
Nigeria has maintained meaningful relations with governments of U.K, U.S. and other Western powers. In November 1999, Nigeria and the U.K agreed on a joint military operations and training. Clearly, the present Nigerian government is committed to fundamental democratic principles and the return of political stability. To achieve this, Obasanjo is aligning himself with countries such as the U.K.
Although the continent of Africa has traditionally been the focus of Nigeria's foreign policy for several decades, economic diplomacy is emerging as another significant priority. In this regard, Nigeria hopes to promote economic co-operation with the global community.
Regional Relations
In pursuing the goal of regional economic cooperation and development, Nigeria helped create ECOWAS, which seeks to harmonize trade and investment practices for its 16 West African member countries and ultimately to achieve a full customs union. Nigeria also has taken the lead in articulating the views of developing nations on the need for modifying the existing international economic order in the context of the North-South dialogue.
The ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), a peacekeeping force composed primarily of Nigerian troops, played an important role in helping to end the Liberian civil war. ECOMOG forces also ousted the junta, which had toppled Sierra Leonean-President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah in May 1997. Kabbah, elected as president in February 1996, was returned to power in March 1998.
In 1999 Nigerian ECOMOG forces intervened in Sierra Leone's civil war, paving the way for U.N. peacekeepers. The swiftness and success with which Nigeria has intervened since the founding of ECOMOG, and the leadership it has shown in supporting both ECOMOG and U.N. interventions, has gained Nigeria significant international notoriety for the strength and commitment it has shown as a regional force.
ECOWAS has announced the move towards a common currency. A lot of work led by Nigeria has made it possible for this goal to be achieved. However, Nigeria has been quite careful, warning that an accelerated pact may be to the detriment of the regional financial system. Therefore they recommend a much more considered approach to the monetary integration. As of mid-year no significant steps towards monetary union have been made.
Nigeria has enjoyed generally good relations with its immediate neighbors. A long-standing border dispute with Cameroon resurfaced in 1981, but relations were eased following a visit to Nigeria by the president of Cameroon in early 1982. In February 1996, tensions in the mineral-rich Bakassi Peninsula resulted in fighting and a tenuous peace.
Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) considers the border dispute. Tensions increased in the disputed peninsula in September 1998 and both sides sent troops to the region. However, both sides released 200 prisoners that had been detained since the dispute began. The ICJ awarded the peninsula to Cameroon in late 2002. Nigeria initially rejected the ruling but later backed away from that statement. In 2003, Nigeria said that it would take three years to cede control of the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon. Nigeria began the very slow process by giving Cameroon control over 30 villages near Lake Chad. In September 2004, the Nigerian Assembly asked for a referendum on the issue in the Bakassi Peninsula.
In addition to the Cameroonian dispute, a border dispute with Chad flared in the spring of 1983 but was eased by talks between the two governments. Nigeria's land borders, closed in April 1984, were reopened in March 1986.
In mid-August 2003, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo agreed to re-open Nigeria's border with Benin after having earlier in the week sealed off the border between the two countries because of alleged criminal activity across the frontier. The closure hit Benin's economy, pushing up the price of fuel and other imports.
Foreign Relations Political Overview:
Although largely unsuccessful, Nigeria played a major role for several years in attempting to negotiate an end to Sudan's civil war.
Africa Union
At its July 2-11, 2001, meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, the Organization of African Unity officially approved the transformation of the Organization of African Unity into the new African Union. Former foreign minister of Cote d'Ivoire, Amara Essy, was elected the first Secretary-General of the African Union. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan reacted with the statement that, "This historic effort will require leadership, courage and willingness to depart from the ways of the past, if it is to do for Africa what the European Union has done for Europe." The goal of the African Union is to be a continental body that will pave the way to a better life for all Africans. Where the OAU was criticized for its lack of action on economic and social fronts, the African Union is charged with development as its primary task. Following a model based on the European Union, the African Union is intended to bridge the economic gaps between African countries and thrust the continent onto the world economic stage as a single entity. The African Union Bill was based on a convergence of South African president Thabo Mbeki's African development plan, and the Plan Omega proposed by Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade. It therefore adds to its economic mandate the political mandate that all of Africa should seek democratic consolidation.
There are significant criticisms to the new African Union, though. Some fear that too much faith is being placed in a document that makes more sense in theory than in practice. The strongest criticism, however, is that the Africa Union's largest force has been Libyan President Moammar Al-Qadhafi. The U.S. has made its objections to the Union clear no doubt due to a lack of trust in Qadhafi's motives.
Many African leaders backed the Union even though they also demonstrated a lack of faith in Qadhafi's motives. Even at the opening of the meeting of the OAU leaders noted that Qadhafi failed to even mention Africa's founding fathers even though it was Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah who was the founder of pan-Africanism some forty years ago. Indeed, Qadhafi has backed groups that are markedly anti-pan-Africanist in his own country. Other comments challenged the controversial role Libyan nationals often play in sub-Saharan African countries. Yet the most controversial position of Qadhafi no doubt was his statement that "We cannot be neutral here. We are here for the Africans, not the Europeans.
We are here for the blacks, not for the whites." With Louis Farrakhan, leader of the U.S.-based Nation of Islam movement, standing behind him, this statement was taken as an affront to increased western relations as opposed to the Union's goal of increasing economic ties with wealthier countries. The new African Union began its official functions during the spring of 2002.
Other Significant Relations
Upon the election of President Obasanjo, the Commonwealth re-admitted Nigeria and the European Union lifted all of the sanctions imposed on the country in 1995. The sanction was a reaction to the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa, an activist slain by the Nigerian military regime of Sani Abacha. As a result of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, failure to embark on a meaningful democratic transition, and various other human rights abuses, the United States had: -- Imposed section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act on Nigeria to refuse entry into the United States senior government and military officials and others who formulate, implement or benefit from policies which impede Nigeria's transition to democracy; -- recalled Ambassador Carrington for consultations following the execution of the Ogoni activists on Nov. 10, 1995 (the Ambassador returned to Nigeria March 3, 1996); -- suspended all military assistance; -- banned the sale and repair of military goods and services to Nigeria; -- taken the lead on consultations at the United Nations on appropriate measures. The United Nations Human Rights Commission on April 23 adopted by consensus a draft resolution condemning Nigeria's Human Rights record co-sponsored by the U.S. and many other nations, including South Africa. President Obasanjo's visit to former U.S. President Clinton was one of his first visits to heads of state. The United States welcomed the election of Obasanjo and re-established military ties with Nigeria.
Most sanctions imposed on Nigeria by the United States since 1993 have been repealed. The U.S. made its preference for Obasanjo known during the 1999 elections. Opposition parties, in fact, accuse the U.S. of accepting flawed electoral results because of their favor. (The Carter Center and other notable international observers ruled that there were significant electoral inconsistencies, but that it is unlikely these inconsistencies altered the final outcome.) In 1999 U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright hailed Nigeria's transition as one of the most vital in the world for U.S. national interests. A large number of U.S. officials visited Nigeria on aid, state and business missions later in the year. The importance, President Clinton clarified in his own trip to the country, is both the strategic interest of Nigeria as the largest and most influential country in western Africa and the significant oil reserves and exploration rights yet to be exploited.
While U.S. President George W. Bush did not detail his Nigeria policy early on, it appeared that at the top of the U.S. agenda, will be the expansion of the Nigerian oil industry, followed by increased stability and decreased corruption. In the wake of the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, the Bush administration began to show greater interest in the developing world, including Nigeria. In this regard, officials in the U.S. Defense Department have stated that cooperation on security interests in the region is of importance and will benefit both the U.S. and Nigeria. In this regard, a number of cooperative efforts have been implemented, including a defense assistance and training program in Nigeria, which is the largest of its kind in Africa.
The U.S. mission currently provides approximately US$10 million per year in aid for electoral assistance, military assistance and to make up for budgetary shortfalls.
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