CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Alpha R.Jalloh, Sierra Leone, August, 1998
THEME = POLITICS
Nigeria is presently planning a leading role within ECOMOG.
But what of the future?
Since the inception of the wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone in 1990 and 1991 respectively, Nigeria has played a dominant role in peace- keeping operations carried out by the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). It's role has however, sparked debates within Sierra Leone. Nigeria's deputy High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Mr.Joe Keshei, was interviewed on August 3, on some of the current issues.
Q = How committed would Nigeria be to peace-keeping operations in West Africa after
relinquishing its chairmanship of ECOWAS?
R = Nigeria's commitment to peace-keeping operations has nothing to do with the
chairmanship of ECOWAS, which it presently holds, with specific reference to ECOMOG. When
ECOMOG was formed, Nigeria was not even the chairman of ECOWAS. And since then, the
Chairmanship has rotated from ex-president Dauda Jawara of Gambia, Nasingbe Eyadema of
Togo, ex-president Nicephore Soglo of Benin, to Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, the previous
chairmanship. Our commitment to peacekeeping operations has remained the same. Our desire
is to ensure durable peace and security in the sub-region.
Q = Does Nigeria have a definite time within which it will commit itself to
ECOMOG's move to end the war in Sierra Leone or it will commit itself till the end of the
war?
R = Our hope is that, the situation in Sierra Leone will not linger on. And that ECOMOG
will be able to finish its mandate which includes the creation of a new Sierra Leonean
army.
Q = Nigeria shoulders the bulk of ECOMOG's expenditure. Is there any prospect of
getting assistance or has it got assistance from international organisations especially UN
agencies?
R = With specific reference to ECOMOG, Nigeria still shoulders the burden of ECOMOG
operations. Of late however, there has been some assistance from some donor countries and
agencies. My personal fear for now is the quality of those assistance and how much
of the assistance is directly channelled to ECOMOG.
Q = Some people, especially in the Western world, perceive Nigeria as an imperial
power in west Africa, does it have any territorial ambitions?
R = I'm not too sure I've heard anybody describing Nigeria as an imperial power. Be that
as it may, we do not have any territorial ambition. Successive Nigerian leaders have made
that clear. The problem is, we in Nigeria believe very strongly that Africa, left alone,
is capable of solving its problem. Nigeria's record of assistance to West African
countries in particular, and to African countries in general, is unequalled in the
continent. We have never placed any price tag on our assistance. In the 70s, at the height
of the Chadian crisis, Nigeria spent over 80 million US dollars on peacekeeping
operations. to the best of my knowledge, we have not colonised Chad.
Q = There have been several reports in local newspapers revealing violation of
human rights by Nigerian soldiers operating within ECOMOG. Don't you think it may create
an acrimonious relationship between Nigerians and Sierra Leoneans?
R = I wish to deny that there have been "several" reports. True, there have been
a "few" reports, but not concerning the violation of human rights. Most emanate
from over zealousness of a few soldiers. ECOMOG's authorities have always addressed these
problems.
Q = There were moves to promote bilateral trade between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Now that the resumption of hostilities by the RUF rebels has shattered some of those
prospects. Are there any alternative investment opportunities for Nigerian investors?
R = There are prospects for bilateral co-operation between Nigeria and Sierra Leone. In
due course, people will begin to see the impact of such co-operation. We want to improve
and increase the volume of trade.
Q = Do you think the government of General Abdoul Abubakar will be able to map out
strategies to confine Nigerian soldiers to the barracks, so that their frequent appearance
on the political scene will not be emulated by other soldiers in West Africa?
R = I do not believe that any military leader can institute strategies to prevent coups.
There have been coups even against military regimes. At the end of the day, we can all
jointly bring an end to coups in Africa by ensuring that governments are responsive to the
needs of the people.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1998 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement