Nigeria

War Declared in Niger Delta Region

One of the many militant groups in the Niger Delta region has “declared war” on the Niger government. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has recently attacked oil stations and pipelines in the Niger Delta region with bombs, explosives, and grenades. It was labeled by MEND as a response to an unprovoked air attack by the Nigerian military. This recent engagement between MEND and the Niger military and security forces left 22 military casualties being reported as well as a high number of MEND casualties. However, there was no reported decline in oil production as the station which was bombed was currently in repair.

The Niger Delta region is an oil endowed area which produces most of Niger’s two-million gallons of oil export. Since 2006, MEND as well as other militant groups have been engaging in a struggle for power and control over the region. MEND has critized the Niger government for not distributing the wealth accumulated by the oil exports. The Niger Delta is one of the poorest regions in Niger, yet it holds the largest oil reserves in the state. MEND has blamed the government for corruption and has called for the removal of top government officials. MEND’s attacks have been occuring since 2006 and have managed to disrupt 20% of the Nigerian oil output. If they successfuly seize control of the region, it would allow them to gain significant power and leverage in the Niger government. However, violence has remained as neither side is willing to surrender the territory and the power associated with control over the oil. The violence will continue until either MEND’s forces retreat from their attacks or the Niger military withdrawls from the region.

Realist

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/09/2008914123522975796.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7615498.stm

September 18, 2008 at 9:43 pm