DOMESTIC CONSTRAINTS ON NIGERIA’S ROLE IN ECOWAS MANAGEMENT OF THE 2012 CONFLICT IN MALI

DOMESTIC CONSTRAINTS ON NIGERIA’S ROLE IN ECOWAS MANAGEMENT OF THE 2012 CONFLICT IN MALI

Abstract:

This study examines the role of Nigeria in ECOWAS’ bid to resolve the conflict in Mali. In line with her leading role, Nigeria had played a major role in preventing further loss of lives and property, and restored democracy in Liberia and Sierra Leone. However, with the current security situation in Nigeria, a sub-regional leader, it raised concern on what the country has done in the security and constitutional conflict in Mali. In this study, the specific objectives were to assess: Nigeria’s role, explanation for the intervention, and factors that affected her performance in Mali. It is the assumption of this study that; Nigeria’s involvement in managing the conflict in Mali was to enhance its national interest and policy of promoting sub-regional peace and security, Nigeria did not play a leadership role in ECOWAS’ effort to resolve the conflict in Mali and that Nigeria’s domestic challenges, especially internal insecurity militated against her performance. The Hegemonic Stability Theory was employed to explain Nigeria’s role in ECOWAS intervention in Mali. This theory argued that Institutions designed to help states in cooperating with one another are more likely to be created and maintained when there is a powerful state that is capable of providing collective goods (stability) and willing to do so. As it affects ECOWAS, Nigeria has been a leading force in view of her population, military strength and resource (oil). The research employed both primary (through interview) and secondary data. Also using documentary method of analysis, the study demonstrates that the rationale behind Nigeria’s role in ECOWAS’ effort in Mali was linked to her national interest ( expressed in terms of the fear of spill over of the conflict, her hegemonic ambition) and her West African policy of promoting peace and security within ECOWAS. The study equally revealed that Nigeria’s role in ECOWAS intervention in Mali was more contributory and supportive than transformative. The study also demonstrated that Nigeria scaled down her contribution to Mali and later with the degeneration of internal security situation, she pulled out her contingent to bolster the internal security concerns. Other factors that limit Nigeria’s role include; problems of logistics, intelligence, doctrine and training. From this experience, it is imperative for Nigeria to promote cordial relations with other non-ECOWAS countries in order to share intelligence on practical modalities of an intervention.

DOMESTIC CONSTRAINTS ON NIGERIA’S ROLE IN ECOWAS MANAGEMENT OF THE 2012 CONFLICT IN MALI

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