The incidence of conflicts, including civil wars, intra- and inter-ethnic strife, war lordism, coups d'état, and genocides, has long been a problem for Africans. The regional organization frequently looks to outside forces, like the United Nations, to ease tensions in the area, but none of the member governments have made any such efforts. These endless wars have resulted in thousands of fatalities, injuries, and displaced people. The study examines Africa's first attempt to intervene in the disastrous civil war in Liberia and stop the massacre going on in the region under a multinational joint task force (ecomog) spearheaded by Nigeria.The study contends that though Nigeria made tremendous efforts to reduce the regional tension, establish a cease-fire and prevent a heinous massacre of liberians,. The controversy surrounding It's involvement due to its incapacity to address underlying causes of the issue, depose a dictator, and establish a durable peace compromised its credibility and basis for doing so. The research satisfies a need for operationalizing and rationalizing Nigerian military presence in the region for sufficient regional peacekeeping.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: BACKROUND TO THE STUDY
Introduction
Aim and Objectives
Literature review
Methodology
Chapterization
Endnotes
CHAPTER TWO: THE LIBERIAN CRISIS IN PERSPECTIVE
Introduction
Origin of the Liberian people
The Causes of the Liberian Civil War
The Course of the Liberian Civil War
Endnotes
CHAPTER THREE: NIGERIA’S PEACEKEEPING IN LIBERIA
Introduction
Rationale behind Nigeria's intervention in Liberia
The Challenges of Nigeria's intervention in Liberia
Endnotes
CHAPTER FOUR: CONSEQUENCES OF NIGERIA'S INTERVENTION IN LIBERIA
Introduction
Impact of Nigeria's involvement in Liberia
Positive Effects
Negative Effects
Endnotes
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION
Conclusion
Endnotes
Objectives and Research Scope
This project examines Nigeria's peacekeeping role and military intervention in Liberia between 1990 and 1997, aiming to evaluate the motivations, challenges, and socio-political consequences of these regional efforts.
- Historical background and evolution of the Liberian civil conflict.
- Strategic rationale underlying Nigeria's leadership in the ECOMOG mission.
- Operational and logistical challenges faced by Nigerian forces in Liberia.
- Analysis of the positive and negative implications of regional interventionism on local stability and Nigeria's foreign policy.
Excerpt from the Book
The Challenges of Nigeria's Intervention in Liberia
Just like every other peace operations set up to resolve regional, intra and inter-state conflicts is without constraints, The Nigerian led ECOMOG intervention in Liberia also experienced some difficulties in carrying out their objectives.
The inability to secure legitimacy for it's operation through a credible multilateral mandate was one of the major constraints faced by the Nigerian peacekeepers. Nigeria was faced with the problem of vague, and unrealistic mandate during its involvement in the conflict, as the operation lacked full authorization by ECOWAS, though it was later given the authority of an ECOMOG operation when it was joined by smaller contingents. The fact that the operation lacked adequate support from the international community who were mainly focused on the activities in the gulf and the cruel attitude of the locals made it difficult for the peacekeepers to function effectively. Some of the locals viewed the peacekeepers as intruders, and this became a major constraints because adequate support was needed from the locals in form of intelligence gathering.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: BACKROUND TO THE STUDY: Provides the introduction, research objectives, methodology, and scope concerning Nigeria's involvement in West African security.
CHAPTER TWO: THE LIBERIAN CRISIS IN PERSPECTIVE: Examines the historical roots of the Liberian state, the onset of ethnic tensions, and the escalation into civil war following the 1980 coup.
CHAPTER THREE: NIGERIA’S PEACEKEEPING IN LIBERIA: Analyzes the rationale behind Nigeria's intervention and the diverse operational challenges encountered by the ECOMOG contingent.
CHAPTER FOUR: CONSEQUENCES OF NIGERIA'S INTERVENTION IN LIBERIA: Evaluates the broad political and humanitarian impacts, balancing the success in peacekeeping with the complexities of prolonged conflict involvement.
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION: Summarizes the study’s findings and assesses the lessons learned regarding Nigeria's role as a regional leader in peacekeeping.
Keywords
Nigeria, Liberia, ECOMOG, Peacekeeping, Intervention, Civil War, ECOWAS, Foreign Policy, Regional Security, Conflict Resolution, Charles Taylor, Samuel Doe, Humanitarianism, Military Strategy, Geopolitics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
This work explores Nigeria's intervention in the Liberian civil war from 1990 to 1997, focusing on the peacekeeping mission conducted under the ECOMOG mandate.
What are the central themes discussed in the book?
The central themes include regional security diplomacy, the challenges of multinational peacekeeping, the impact of internal African conflicts on foreign policy, and the strategic dilemmas of humanitarian intervention.
What is the main objective of the study?
The objective is to critically examine the role, rationale, difficulties, and broader implications of Nigeria’s military involvement in Liberia during the specified period.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The study utilizes the historical research method, collecting qualitative data from primary and secondary sources, including interviews with former ECOMOG soldiers and a review of relevant documents and academic literature.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the history of the Liberian conflict, the strategic decisions behind Nigeria's leadership in ECOMOG, the specific operational hurdles such as funding and command structure, and the consequences for regional stability.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include Nigeria, Liberia, ECOMOG, Peacekeeping, Intervention, Conflict Resolution, and Regional Security.
How does the author characterize the role of Nigeria in ECOMOG?
The author characterizes it as a "big brother" role, driven by a combination of Afrocentric foreign policy and national security concerns, albeit one marked by significant operational sacrifices.
What specific challenges did the Nigerian-led ECOMOG forces encounter?
Forces faced limited logistical support, a lack of a clear mandate from the international community, language barriers among multinational troops, and the persistent difficulty of maintaining neutrality in a complex, multi-factional conflict.
- Quote paper
- Jecintha Ogah (Author), 2019, Nigeria and its Peacekeeping Efforts in Liberia, 1990-1997, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1356660
