Niger Coup: 10 times Nigerian army has played ‘Big Brother’ role to quell unrest in Africa
Often regarded as the nation with one of Africa’s strongest military forces and the fifth-largest largest military personnel on the continent, Nigeria has, for more than 60 years, played strategic roles in the security and sustenance of democracy in Africa
In 1960 when the Congo Crisis began, shortly after the sub-Saharan African country gained independence from Belgium, a political upheaval emanated, and Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s first Prime Minister, sought help from the United Nations and Nigeria. To help quell the tension in the new country, Nigeria deployed its first military troops on a United Nations Operation which was commandeered by Lt. Col. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, and had some of Nigerian early high-ranking military personnel like Lt. Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, Lt. Olusegun Obasanjo, Lts. Henry Igboba, Captains Hillary Njoku, Yakubu Pam, and Abogo Largema.
Interestingly, from Liberia through the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) to Nigeria’s role in restoring democracy in Sierra Leone in 1999, the Nigerian military can take credit for being at the forefront concerning security in Africa, despite the backlog of security issues that the country has been faced with for over 60 years.
With the recent coup in Niger, which occurred on July 26, 2023, Nigeria once again appears to be at the centre stage in returning normalcy to the country, particularly as President Bola Tinubu is also the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
During a meeting with Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held on Sunday, July 30, 2023, in Abuja, leaders of ECOWAS are considering military intervention to restore President Mohamed Bazoum to power if the mutineers fail to negotiate and dialogue with the leaders of West Africa sub-region.
While a military intervention will involve Nigeria committing its soldiers to the mission, here are 10 times Nigeria has played the big brother role in military intervention.
South Sudan Civil Crisis
Since the South Sudan Civil War began in December 2013, Nigeria has played a significant role in contributing troops to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). The conflict in South Sudan erupted after a political power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar, leading to widespread violence and instability in the country.
In 2017, Nigeria sent about 800 troops to the country.
Nigerian troops in Liberian Civil War
During the Liberian Civil War, which lasted from 1990 to 1997, Nigeria played a crucial role in the peacekeeping efforts of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). The conflict in Liberia was characterized by political instability, ethnic tensions, and violent armed factions vying for power, resulting in a devastating humanitarian crisis and widespread violence.
But peacekeeping or military intervention often comes with a huge military and material cost.
In May 2023, former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Leo Irabor, said that the Nigerian government spent about $8 billion on peacekeeping in Liberia amidst the loss of military personnel.
Sierra Leone
On May 25, 1997, a little more than a year after Ahmad Kabbah was elected President of Sierra Leone on March 17, 1996, he was overthrown by a coup. General Sani Abacha, the then Nigerian head of state, who was involved in various coups and orchestrated the coup d’état of 1993 which overthrew the Interim National Government of Ernest Shonekan, committed military troops that restored Kabbah and his government in March 1998.
Mali War
Nigerian troops were part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to support peace and stability in Mali. MINUSMA, which was established in April 2013 to stabilize Mali after the Tuareg rebellion of 2012, was terminated nearly a decade later on June 30, 2023.
While there are limited resources on how much Nigeria spent on the 10-year peacekeeping, AllAfrica reported in May 2013 that the Nigerian government spent $45 million just a month when MINUSMA was formed.
Central African Republic
Also, in the conflict-torn Central African Republic, Nigerian military personnel were deployed as part of the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA) and later the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) to address the conflict.
However, the current notable military force in the Central African Republic is the Wagner Group, a Russian state-funded paramilitary organization.
Darfur Conflict, Sudan
Nigerian troops were also part of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to address the crisis in the Darfur region when the conflict began in February 2003. The Darfur War was a major armed conflict involving the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebel groups, and the government of Sudan.
Congo War
It was during the United Nations Operation in Congo (ONUC) which Nigerian troops were part of when Olusegun Obasanjo, who would later become the president of Nigeria for two terms, was nearly executed in May 1961 for “‘African treachery’ of cavorting with and being found in the midst of enemies of the Congo.”
The mission, led by Lt. Col. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, was the first time Nigerian troops were out on a United Nations Operation, and the success recorded was notable in cementing Nigeria as one of Africa’s leading military forces.
Guinea Bissau
In April 2023, Nigeria deployed 172 soldiers to Guinea Bissau on a peacekeeping operation. Also, in April 2022, the Nigerian government sent 173 troops to Guinea Bissau.
Somalia
Nigeria’s peacekeeping missions also stretch to Eastern Africa. In 2012, Channels TV reported that 40 Nigerian Police officers were deployed to Somalia to participate in the Africa Union (AU) peacekeeping mission.
Eritrea-Ethiopia War
The Eritrea-Ethiopia War, which lasted from 1998 to 2000, was a border conflict between the neighboring countries of Eritrea and Ethiopia. The war resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and significant displacement of civilians, and it further strained relations between the two countries.
As part of the international community’s efforts to support the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) and contribute to peacekeeping in the region, Nigeria, being a prominent member of the United Nations and an advocate for peace in Africa, also sent military observers and peacekeepers to Ethiopia and Eritrea.
