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Boko Haram- a suitable case for UN-approved intervention Boko Haram- a suitable case for UN-approved intervention
(about 1 hour later)
Many months ago, officials in Britain's Foreign Office responsible for looking "over the horizon" identified Nigeria as the country which concerned them most.Many months ago, officials in Britain's Foreign Office responsible for looking "over the horizon" identified Nigeria as the country which concerned them most.
It had plenty of oil, but also corruption, weak central government, poverty, and, most worrying, the threat from extremist Islamist groups in the north of the country.It had plenty of oil, but also corruption, weak central government, poverty, and, most worrying, the threat from extremist Islamist groups in the north of the country.
Counter terrorism officials in MI5 and the police advised that militant Islamists would not threaten British security since the Nigerian community in Britain were from the Christian south.Counter terrorism officials in MI5 and the police advised that militant Islamists would not threaten British security since the Nigerian community in Britain were from the Christian south.
The horizon scanned by officials in the FO has come much, much, closer, with the attacks by Boko Haram groups and the abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls in north-east Nigeria.The horizon scanned by officials in the FO has come much, much, closer, with the attacks by Boko Haram groups and the abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls in north-east Nigeria.
James Cameron, the prime minister, and his foreign secretary, William Hague, deploy the same rhetoric as they did over Syria. Yet only now are they offering practical help in the form of counter-terrorism experts, experienced special forces advisers, and communications equipment. (The FO excuse is that the Nigerian government had not previously asked for help.) David Cameron, the prime minister, and his foreign secretary, William Hague, deploy the same rhetoric as they did over Syria. Yet only now are they offering practical help in the form of counter-terrorism experts, experienced special forces advisers, and communications equipment. (The FO excuse is that the Nigerian government had not previously asked for help.)
The whole question of how to intervene, when, and with what, was the subject this week of a high-level roundtable in London run by the British United Nations Association (UNA-UK) on the "responsibility to protect".The whole question of how to intervene, when, and with what, was the subject this week of a high-level roundtable in London run by the British United Nations Association (UNA-UK) on the "responsibility to protect".
This principle or pledge - R2P, as it is known - was agreed by heads of state and government at the 2005 UN world summit. It held out the promise of a world free from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.This principle or pledge - R2P, as it is known - was agreed by heads of state and government at the 2005 UN world summit. It held out the promise of a world free from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.
The principle was employed by the UN security council in response to crises in Darfur, Libya, Ivory Coast, Yemen, South Sudan, and Mali. It raises the whole question of national sovereignty and of (often pre-emptive) "liberal intervention".The principle was employed by the UN security council in response to crises in Darfur, Libya, Ivory Coast, Yemen, South Sudan, and Mali. It raises the whole question of national sovereignty and of (often pre-emptive) "liberal intervention".
On the face of it, the R2P principle should be more acceptable now given that most violent conflicts are intra-state rather than between states."Non-state" actors - terrorists, warlords, drug traffickers - are the common enemy of states, east and west - Russia, China, and the US - which otherwise have competing interests.On the face of it, the R2P principle should be more acceptable now given that most violent conflicts are intra-state rather than between states."Non-state" actors - terrorists, warlords, drug traffickers - are the common enemy of states, east and west - Russia, China, and the US - which otherwise have competing interests.
Boko Haram attacks might seem to be a clear candidate for R2P intervention approved by the UN. The UN should be seen as a legitimate arbiter of intervention, one leading participant at the UNA-UK roundtable suggested.Boko Haram attacks might seem to be a clear candidate for R2P intervention approved by the UN. The UN should be seen as a legitimate arbiter of intervention, one leading participant at the UNA-UK roundtable suggested.
But trust is vital. Trust has been eroded by countries, notably the UK and the US, using intervention as a means of regime change. The British government did precisely that in Libya, and would have done so had it agreed to intervene militarily in Syria.But trust is vital. Trust has been eroded by countries, notably the UK and the US, using intervention as a means of regime change. The British government did precisely that in Libya, and would have done so had it agreed to intervene militarily in Syria.
Jason Ralph, professor of international relations at Leeds university, says in his report , "mainstreaming the responsibility to protect in UK strategy", distributed at the UNA roundtable, that what was important was building an understanding that humanitarian intervention would not be abused by powerful states acting unilaterally.Jason Ralph, professor of international relations at Leeds university, says in his report , "mainstreaming the responsibility to protect in UK strategy", distributed at the UNA roundtable, that what was important was building an understanding that humanitarian intervention would not be abused by powerful states acting unilaterally.
The UK, Ralph added, has been a strong advocate of R2P. The problem was it had not always followed through on its rhetoric.The UK, Ralph added, has been a strong advocate of R2P. The problem was it had not always followed through on its rhetoric.
It would be good if Britain, despite the recent past and the legacy of Blairite intervention, could take a lead in promoting a genuine, and trusted, debate over the future of intervention now that Nato-led troops are being withdrawn from Afghanistan.It would be good if Britain, despite the recent past and the legacy of Blairite intervention, could take a lead in promoting a genuine, and trusted, debate over the future of intervention now that Nato-led troops are being withdrawn from Afghanistan.
I trust that is not living in cloud cuckoo land.I trust that is not living in cloud cuckoo land.