ABSTRACT
This study examined the mediatory role of Nigeria during the Liberia civil war. Findings
revealed that Nigeria‟s mediatory role during the civil war was achieved through ECOWAS
monitoring group (ECOMOG) whose aim is to restore peace, ensure security, law and order. It
also encouraged many humanitarian activities aimed at reducing the suffering of the people.
ECOMOG helped considerably to create favourable condition for the holding in Liberia of the
free and democratic presidential and parliamentary elections. Eleven member states of ECOWAS
provided contingents for the operations in Liberia
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Table of Contents
ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..ii
CERTIFICATION ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………iii
APPROVAL ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………iv
DEDICATION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………vi
CHAPTER ONE………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1
1.0 INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ………………………………………………………………………………………….1
1.2 Statement of Problem………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6
1.3 Objective of Study ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7
1.4 Significance of Study………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7
1.5 Research Questions…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7
1.6 Scope of the Study ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
1.7 Periodization ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
CHAPTER TWO …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………9
2.0 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………9
2.1 Theoretical Framework……………………………………………………………………………………………………………9
2.2 Concept of Foreign Policy ………………………………………………………………………………………………….14
2.2.1 Nigerian Foreign Policy Objectives………………………………………………………………………………………15
2.2.2 Principles of Nigerian Foreign Policy……………………………………………………………………………………17
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2.2.3 Concept of Peacekeeping…………………………………………………………………………………………………….18
2.2.4 Nigeria and Peacekeeping Mission ……………………………………………………………………………………….19
CHAPTER THREE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………23
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………………………………………….23
3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..23
3.2 AREAS OF STUDY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..23
3.3 RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS……………………………………………………………………………………………….24
3.4 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION …………………………………………………………………………………….24
3.5 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS………………………………………………………………………………………….24
CHAPTER FOUR………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………25
4.0 DATA ANALYSIS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….25
4.1 Background to Nigeria‟s role in peacekeeping operations in Liberia……………………………………………29
4.2 Factors that shaped Nigeria‟s mediatory role in Liberia……………………………………………………………..34
4.3 Peacekeeping operations of ECOMOG in Liberia directed by Nigeria …………………………………………38
CHAPTER FIVE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….47
Summary of findings, Conclusion and Recommendation…………………………………………………………………47
5.1 Summary of findings……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..47
5.2 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..47
5.3 Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………48
Glossary of Acronyms ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..49
BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………50
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CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Liberia‟s internal conflict can be traced back to at least 1847 when it gained its independence
from the United States of America. The immediate root cause of the civil war was Samuel Doe a
Liberian army master sergeant and his failed promises to institute democratic reforms and return
to the country back to civilian rule after the 1980 bloody coup by assassinating president Tolbert
and executing thirteen of his cabinet members. Doe‟s military regime was to stay in power until
1985 when he promised to end the system of corruption and redistribute the nation‟s wealth
among the people. In 1989, Charles Taylor, a military man who was part of Doe‟s cabinet
entered Liberia through, Côte d‟ Iviore seeking to overthrow Doe‟s regime. This resulted in a
civil war which was brought to an end by African peacekeepers in 1996. In 1996 Charles Taylor
was elected as president of Liberia.
The end of the Cold War witnessed intensification of intrastate conflicts in the West African subregion. Prior to this era, the West African sub-regional body, Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS), had used traditional conflict resolution mechanisms to resolve
conflicts. These notwithstanding, with the outbreak of conflict in Liberia in November 1989,
ECOWAS employed ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), a military
intervention force, in August 1990 as another conflict resolution mechanism. The end goal of
ECOMOG was to stop the carnage, destruction of property, and create the conditions for
diplomacy and dialogue to be employed hopefully resulting in a long-term political settlement.
2
Since then, ECOMOG has been employed on four subsequent intervention operations in the
countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Côte d‟ Iviore, and Liberia for a second time
The last twenty-five years have witnessed intensification of intrastate conflicts in West
Africa. The sub- region‟s leaders have tried to resolve these conflicts using various traditional
conflict resolution mechanisms. These mechanisms have included commissions of mediation, adhoc committees, mediation by West African Heads of State and the use of the Chieftaincy
Institution. Conflicts in the region have, however, revealed that the use of these mechanisms
alone has not helped much in resolving the conflicts and preventing the outbreak of violence.
Since 1990, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has resorted to
employing military intervention forces as a major part of its conflict resolution mechanisms.
These interventions have created an atmosphere conducive for diplomatic means and the
traditional conflict resolution means to be employed to resolve conflicts in the West Africa subregion.
The ECOWAS intervention force, known as the ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group
(ECOMOG) is a non-standing force whose troops are contributed by West African states
militaries. ECOMOG has intervened in intrastate conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea
Bissau and Côte d‟ Iviore. Even though these interventions did little to eradicate the root cause of
the conflicts in these countries, the interventions halted the carnage and created an atmosphere
for peace to be restored and political dialogue to begin. In particular, the ECOMOG operation in
Liberia has been widely acclaimed as one of the most successful and unprecedented in the
history of peacekeeping.
The history of Nigeria‟s involvement in peacekeeping in West African States is based on its
foreign policy approach which since 1960 has constantly been changing, though the principles
3
guiding its foreign relations remain the same. Nigerian leaders are largely responsible for these
unstable external relations. Since Nigeria‟s foreign policy is deeply rooted in Africa with
strategic emphasis on political and economic cooperation, peaceful dispute resolution, and global
nonalignment, Nigerian leaders also have their attention fixed on the successful implementation
of these principles.
Over the years, implementation of Nigeria‟s foreign policy show that her leaders operate
within four “concentric circles” of national interest. The innermost circle represents Nigeria‟s
own security, independence and prosperity and is centered on its immediate neighbors Benin,
Cameroon, Chad and Niger; the second circle revolves around Nigeria‟s relations with its West
African neighbors; the third circle focuses on continental African issues of peace, development
and democratization; and the fourth circle involves Nigeria‟s relations with organizations,
institutions and states outside Africa. With this in mind, each Nigerian head of state or president
work to ensure that no single part is defected in pursuing the country’s foreign policy. Evidences
abound on how past Nigerian heads of state or presidents have worked within these four
concentric circles.
The African-centeredness of Nigeria‟s foreign policy stemmed from the various speeches
made by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in the House of Representatives on August 20, 1960;
Independence Day Address on October 1, 1960; and Acceptance Speech of Nigeria‟s admission
into the United Nations in New York on October 8, 1960. These famous speeches became the
fundamental principles that guided different Heads of State and Presidents of Nigeria towards
other West African states for more than 50 years. Again, the military strength of Nigeria which
soared after the civil war plays important role in the conduct of foreign policy on the African
4
soil. Nigeria dominates the ECOMOG, and remains one of the largest contributors of military
personnel to different United Nations peacekeeping missions in the sub-region.
Thus, between 1960 and 2013, Nigeria has been actively involved in various ways in the
struggle against disintegration of the West African sub-region. This made her to champion the
establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS in 1975) and
other sub-regional organizations concerned with bringing peace to the sub-region and peoples
across the West African sub-region.
In all, Nigeria‟s contributions to the economic development and socio-political stability
of the West African sub-region call for scholarly attention. This is because the country‟s
significant financial backing, troops and resources that made ECOWAS as well as ECOMOG‟s
creation possible, cannot be separated from the African-centeredness of Nigeria‟s foreign policy.
Nigeria‟s reputation as a regional stabilizer, conciliator, and peace builder in the West
African sub-region remains unmatched. Nigeria‟s positive and successful intervention in the
Sierra Leonean civil war, Liberia, Niger, makes Nigeria to be a major player towards global
peace, security and stability. Nigeria‟s long-term 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, conflict resolution, economic development and political integration of the West African
sub-region.
More important is that the overall operation of Nigeria‟s foreign policy since 1960,
whether conservative, dynamic or confrontational, was conducted based on shared pre-colonial
and colonial experiences, intra-African cultural relations and post-colonial geopolitics. Hence,
the problems of West Africa are not only shared by Nigeria, but are seen as a priority which has
5
made its leaders to sometimes severe relations with other countries, particularly the western
powers.
Several factors have continually driven Nigeria‟s foreign policy towards its West African
neighbors. One of them is centered on the protection of over 160 million Nigerians who might be
negatively affected by the spill-over of wars from „ring countries‟ such as Chad, Niger,
Cameroon and Republic of Benin.
Added to the above is the boom and bull of „Petro-Dollar‟ which have significantly shaped the
way in which Nigeria implements its foreign policy towards West African states. Nigeria is the
largest donor to the ECOWAS as well as one of the largest donors to the African Union. Again,
the military strength of Nigeria which soared after the civil war plays important role in the
conduct of foreign policy on the African soil. Nigeria dominates the ECOMOG, and remains one
of the largest contributors of military personnel to different United Nations peacekeeping
missions in the sub-region.
Thus, between 1960 and 2013, Nigeria has been actively involved in various ways in the
struggle against disintegration of the West African sub-region. This made her to champion the
establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS in 1975) and
other sub-regional organizations concerned with bringing peace to the sub-region and peoples
across the West African sub-region.
In all, Nigeria‟s contributions to the economic development and socio-political stability
of the West African sub-region call for scholarly attention. This is because the country‟s
significant financial backing, troops and resources that made ECOWAS as well as ECOMOG‟s
creation possible, cannot be separated from the African-centeredness of Nigeria‟s foreign policy.
6
Nigeria‟s reputation as a regional stabilizer, conciliator, and peace builder in the West
African sub-region remains unmatched. Nigeria‟s positive and successful intervention in the
Sierra Leonean civil war, Liberia, Niger, makes Nigeria to be a major player towards global
peace, security and stability. Nigeria‟s long-term 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, conflict resolution, economic development and political integration of the West African
sub-region.
1.2 Statement of Problem
In December 1989, civil war in Liberia broke out, having profound implications for the
country and its neighbors. The horrific conflict devastated Liberia‟s natural, human and material
resources; large numbers of Liberian refugees moved into other West African states, and human
right abuses by all parties to the conflict were widely reported. The international community,
especially the United Nations (UN) and the United States, failed to intervene stop the conflict. It
then fell on Liberia‟s sub-regional partners to halt its total disintegration. After an initial failure
to accomplish diplomatic and political means, the economic community of West African states
(ECOWAS) decided in august 1990 to intervene with military monitoring group (ECOMOG).
(ECOWAS peacekeeping monitoring group)
7
1.3 Objective of Study
This study seeks to achieve the following objectives:
(i) Elucidate the background to Nigeria‟s role in peacekeeping operations in West Africa with
focus on Liberia Civil War;
(ii) Examine the factors that shaped Nigeria‟s mediatory role in Liberia;
(iii) Analyse the peacekeeping operations of ECOMOG in Liberia under the direction of Nigeria;
1.4 Significance of Study
This study elucidates the ECOMOG interventionist role in the Liberia crisis, under the
leadership of Nigeria. It is important to examine and analyse towards party intervention in
national conflict in order to identify the significance of ending domestic crises. Preventing the
escalation of the Liberia crisis into regional boarders because necessary going by the number of
killings, displaced people/persons and other humanitarian crisis, which emanated from the
conflict. A critical analysis of ECOMOG intervention is an attempt to elucidate on the challenges
of third party role in resolving violent domestic conflict. It also presents one with the opportunity
to suggestive and making proposals for timely intervention in order to prevent serious damaging
effects of such conflict.
1.5 Research Questions
To be able to give an historical analysis on the issue in question Nigeria‟s mediatory role
in Liberia civil war, the following questions were raised.
1. What was the purpose for which the peacekeeping operation was set up?
2. What was the success and failures of the peacekeeping operation in Liberia?
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3. What factors shaped Nigeria‟s mediatory role through ECOMOG in Liberia?
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study examines the factors that shaped Nigeria‟s mediatory role in Liberia during
the civil war. However, the research is limited to case studies of Nigeria‟s involvement in
Liberia‟s civil war
In producing such a work like this, the problem confronting the researcher is not the
scarcity of materials but its availability some of which are bias in their presentation. Finally,
there is the question of time and fund which may serve as impediments to this research.
Nevertheless, these imitating factors will greatly be managed to make the research work more
objective in its presentation.
1.7 Periodization
This study begins from 1990 and terminates in 2003. Specifically, the period covered
includes ECOMOG Operations in Liberia (August 1990-July 1997 and August-October 2003).
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