Interethnic conflicts and their impact on national. It is driven by a mix of historical, political, economic, and ethnic antagonisms. The colonialist while pretending to carry out a mission of uniting the warring ethnic groups, consciously and systematically separated the various nigerian people thereby creating a suitable atmosphere for conflict. In nigeria, the colonial masters provided urban setting, which constitutes the cradle of contemporary ethnicity. Mar 10, 2014 the roots of nigeria s religious and ethnic conflict. The end of the cold war thus sparked interest in two important questions about ethnic conflict.
Managing ethnic and cultural diversity for national. Ethnic, religious and political tensions are discussed. The complexity of ethnic conflict in nigeria reflects on its mode of occurrence. Pdf theories and practice of ethnic conflict management in nigeria. A historical analysis of ethnic conflict in nigeria. Causes of conflict in nigeria and ways of resolving them. This conflict has continually existed in the cold zone and has not been resolved in a long time. Ethnic and religious crises in nigeria african journals online. Nigeria is an oil rich country, but nearly twothirds of the population lives in poverty and makes less. Ethnicity, religion, ethnoreligious conflict, integration, good governance. The last occasion when the army was called out to quell ethnic clashes was in the niger delta area in november 1999 when hundreds died at the hands of the troops. Ethnoreligious conflicts, attributed to actors primarily divided by cultural, ethnic, or religious communities and identities, such as instances of religious violence between christian and muslim communities. Aug 30, 2005 the national question in nigeria is probably one of the most complicated in the world with over 120 languages spoken, three main ethnic groups, none of which constitutes a majority of the population, and the religious divide between christians in the south and muslims in the north. From the colonial times till date, leaders use ethnic biases to win election and divide the country.
That is exactly what we are facing now with the biafra region. Tribalism is one of the causes of ethnic conflict in nigeria. An article written by ena dion on t stated that nigerias worst violence is not boko haram but the calm battle between herders and farmers. Making sense of nigerias fulanifarmer conflict bbc news. Are we then to conclude that ethnicity is a problem as virtually every one does, apparently impressed by what appears like a high incidence and high intensity of ethnic conflict in africa. In fact, no decade of postindependent nigeria has been conflict free. At a global scale, the conflict presents itself in a way where there is a large economic impact.
For the country nigeria, the years 19992003 was years of. Pdf this article focused on the historical survey of ethnic conflict in the nigerian society and its scope is vast in a way that it stresses the. Introduction nigeria is a country of over four hundred 400 ethnic groups and numerous sub ethnic groups with different backgrounds. Sep 25, 2007 abstract this article assesses the viability of ethnicity as an explanation for the worsening orgy of conflict and militarisation in nigerias oil producing region.
The history of ethnicity and ethnic conflicts in nigeria is also traced back to the colonial transgressions that forced the ethnic groups of the. This seven year conflict and humanitarian crisis in the north has killed 20,000 and displaced 2. A historical analysis of ethnic conflict in nigeria grin. An ethnic conflict is a conflict between two or more contending ethnic groups. While the source of the conflict may be political, social, economic or religious, the individuals in conflict must expressly fight for their ethnic groups position within society. A historical survey of ethnic conflict in nigeria citeseerx. Feb, 2018 in nigeria, the colonial masters provided urban setting, which constitutes the cradle of contemporary ethnicity. The roots of nigerias religious and ethnic conflict public. This article focused on the historical survey of ethnic conflict in the nigerian society and its scope is vast in a way that it stresses the countrys ethnic conflicts beginning from the pre. To date, few such comprehensive analyses of the boko haram conflict have been. But incidence of ethnic violence was different in varying country. With several coups, general strikes and a civil war, nigerians have had to experience some of the most sordid tragedies arising from difference of opinions and distrust. Pdf institutional design, ethnic conflict management and.
Explore the eight largest ethnic groups in nigeria below. A historical analysis of ethnic conflict in nigeria osadola oluwaseun samuel research paper. The religious conflict in nigeria symposium, session 2. Causes of nigeria unrest and conflict situation proceedings of theires 3rd international conference, dubai, uae, 4th july 2015, isbn. For the country nigeria, the years 19992003 was years of great suffering caused by ethic crises. The case of plateau state of nigeria abubakar sokoto mohammed 1. Ethnic conflict and national stability in nigeria a case study of obasonjos regime abstract. The conflict in nigeria, especially from the year 1967 to 1970, was somewhat different from that in south africa. This article focused on the historical survey of ethnic conflict in the nigerian society and its scope is vast in a way that it stresses the countrys ethnic conflicts beginning from the precolonialism state down the postcolonialism. The northern peoples congress npc was formed in the first republic and it was a hausafulani party. Religious and ethnic nationalism has led to conflicts about control of state power. Jul 18, 2019 nigeria is found in west africa and borders benin, chad, cameroon, and niger. Cold and warm is a term i coined in order to classify the firms in which ethnic conflict occur in nigeria. Nigeria, as a nation, is bound by various ethnicities or ethnic groups, thus higazi noted that, the dominant discourses in the conflict refer to political exclusion on the basis of ethnicity and religion 14.
Causes of conflict in nigeria and ways of resolving them legit. The national question in nigeria is probably one of the most complicated in the world with over 120 languages spoken, three main ethnic groups, none of which constitutes a majority of the population, and the religious divide between christians in the south and muslims in the north. The impact of ethnic conflict on economic development. Igbohausa feud that began after the military coup and countercoup of 1966, culminating in the civil war in 1967, efikibibio conflict, tivjukun debacle, fulanibirom clashes, and itsekiriurhoboijaw conflict in the niger delta. This impact negatively on the development of the nigerian state. Colonial masters play a vital role in the growth of ethno religious conflicts, these colonial masters brought the christianity with them and try to penetrate the western values in the system of nigeria. It is against this backdrop that this paper seeks to unravel the phenomenon of ethnic militias and insurgency in nigeria. Theoretical perspective 79 languages, customs and traditions gives the country a rich cultural diversity. Nigeria is said to be a british creation by uniting the various nationalities into a single country today known as the federal republic of nigeria. Religious and ethnic nationalism has led to conflicts about control of. Nigerians tend to segregate and discriminate against people that are not from the same tribe. In nigeria, ethnic identities are so mixed that no region or state is immune to the infection. Trends and dimensions of ethnic conflict in nigeria ethnic conflicts could take different forms and its manifestation could arise from different dimensions in the nigeria society. Ethnic conflict causes of ethnic conflict in nigeria.
Ethnic conflicts in nigeria and africa in general arise as result of scarcity of political resources, multiculturalism, religion, militarisation of ethnicity among others. Ethnic conflict and sustainable development in nigeria. It was found that a number of violent events that had occurred in nigeria was due to the manipulations of the constitutional law in a process of decision making by muslims and christian leaders and political elites that cannot fulfill the expectations of their respective ethnic groups. Aug 29, 2016 ethnic pluralism and ethnicity in nigeria. The main objective of this article is to explore deeper analyses. Theories and practice of ethnic conflict management in nigeria orji nkwachukwu introduction like many multiethnic societies, one major hurdle which nigeria.
Nigerias ethnic fulani herders are said to be the worlds fourth deadliest militant group the bbcs naziru mikailu asks who they are and what they are fighting for. Developing country management ethnic conflict by participation and justice policy that the equality is the best way for resolve this problem. Pdf a historical survey of ethnic conflict in nigeria. This causes jealousy, hatred and can further cause conflict between two or more ethnic groups. Nigerias underdevelopment, with special reference to her political. This paper explored ethnic conflicts in nigeria and participatory democracy as a means of tackling ethnic conflicts. The roots of nigerias religious and ethnic conflict. Communal conflicts in nigeria can be divided into two broad categories. Nigeria is a country of over four hundred 400 ethnic groups and numerous subethnic groups with different. Pdf nigeria is one of the major democracies in african continent. Ethnic conflict and national stability in nigeria pdf. Until now, the analysis made in this paper has been guided by the medicodiagnostic method of inquiry, an analytical approach that seeks to avoid one of the commonly committed fallacies of the century jumping to a conclusion or making a hasty decision. A study of the nawurigonja conflict in northern ghana cletus kwaku mbowura lecturer department of history university of ghana ghana abstract for many years northern region of ghana has been in a state of turmoil and atrophy due to intermittent inter.
It traces the evolution of ethnic conflict research in nigeria, explores the existing literature on ethnic conflicts and points to the neglect of intraethnic conflicts. Religious conflicts in nigeria world socialist web site. In developing country incidence were low and in the developing sever. Ethnicity, ethnic crisis, and good governance in nigeria. Loyalty to ethnic groups impedes true nationalism and unity of the country. This paper expounds such conceptual issues as ethnicity, cultural diversity, federalism and national integration and then presents the historical background to ethnic and cultural conflicts in nigeria. The marginalisation question edlyne e anugwom abstract this paper examines the issue of ethnic conl1icts and thcir implications for democracy in nigeria. The causes of ethnic conflict in multiethnic societies. Nigeria suffers a variety of complex political problems including inequality, corruption, oil disputes, national disunity, and the boko haram insurgency. Interethnic conflicts and their impact on national development, integration and social cohesion. Similarly, the igbos belonged to the national council of nigeria and cameroon ncnc. Institutional design, ethnic conflict management and democracy in nigeria.
However, what appears to be an ethnic conflict in nigeria is an actual fact of a struggle between the ruling class for the nations wealth. Look at the major reasons why nigerians fight with each other. For instance, in nigeria the ethnic factor is seen when political parties are formed and during elections. Briefly stated, these are the seven themes we intend to sketch in the following discussion of institutional design, ethnic conflict management, and democracy in nigeria. The struggle for an independent ijaw state, or an ijaw state to be reckoned with, within a united nigeria entered another phase.
Ntroduction nigeria presents a complex of individual as well as a conflation and recursive identities of which the ethnic, religious, regional and subethnic communal are the most salient and the main bases for violent conflicts in the country. This final criterion differentiates ethnic conflict from other forms of struggle. British, as usual use their divide and rule policy to sow the seed of conflicts on. A need for true federalism peaceful and prosperous in nigeria article pdf available november 20 with 9,686 reads how we measure reads. May 05, 2016 nigeria s ethnic fulani herders are said to be the worlds fourth deadliest militant group the bbcs naziru mikailu asks who they are and what they are fighting for. It is therefore not surprising to note that at least twice 196770 civil war and 1993 1999 friction ethnic rivalry has been the major cause of internal conflicts in nigeria. Resolving it will require a deep understanding of conflict dynamics, as well as the motivations and capabilities of various key actors. Pdf a historical survey of ethnic conflict in nigeria researchgate. It is therefore patently clear that realistic measures to solve these problems are needed. This is against the background that the niger delta crisis, despite being widely portrayed as turning on an ethnic pivot, reveals attributes that should compel a rethink of its assumed social. The main focus is the decision to implement the sharia laws in northern nigeria, in particular, how it has led to bloody conflicts in the country. The ethnic conflicts happen as a result of intolerance and inadequate relationship between the regions within the country.
Ethnicity, ethnic crises, good governance, sustainable national development. Furthermore, no religious conflict in the nation is purely religious without ethnicity playing its way in it. Over the past few years thousands of people have been killed in ethnic clashes. And british also used this to exploit the traditional culture of nigeria. It could manifest in the area of religion, economy, education, military, politics, and among professionals.
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