Future Directions for USAID Support to Conflict Mitigation in Nigeria

摘要

Nigeria, like many other countries, confronts a number of internal conflicts.Since independence in 1960 it has survived a civil war. It has also survived a series of military regimes that have exacerbated many conflicts by treating them as illegitimate dissent. Rather than working with people and groups to transform the structures, issues, and relationships that underlie those conflicts, most Nigerian military leaders sought instead to suppress the symptoms, particularly when conflicts turned violent. At present, Nigeria cannot successfully manage disputes--a key test of an effective system of governance. This report draws on background reading and two weeks of interviews with four separate groups: a broad spectrum of Nigerians engaged in or concerned about conflict resolution (CR); OTI/Nigeria staff; USAID/Nigeria personnel; and representatives of other donor agencies. It begins with a rapid review of the roots of conflict in contemporary Nigeria, then turns to the policy environment as it affects CR possibilities. The next section presents a general approach to intervening in conflict situations, and shows how OTI/Nigeria has pursued this approach during its two-year mandate. Findings and lessons learned are considered in the following section. The report concludes with recommendations and a plan of action. Appendices include (A) Terms of Reference, (B) Bibliography, (C) Persons Interviewed, (D) Methodology, and (E) Background Information on Key Areas of the country where the report proposes that USAID pursue follow-on activities.