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Should Nigeria's government negotiate with Boko Haram? Should Nigeria's government negotiate with Boko Haram?
(4 months later)
It’s been more than four weeks since 276 Nigerian school girls were It’s been more than four weeks since 276 Nigerian school girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram. Apart from a brief message confirming responsibility, and threatening to sell the girls, the Islamist militant group has remained silent on why the girls were taken and what it really intends to do with them. Until now.
kidnapped by Boko Haram. Apart from a brief message confirming In a video released on Monday, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shakau, smiling and cradling what looks like an AK-47, said that he would release the girls in exchange for Boko Haram prisoners being held by the Nigerian government. “We will never release them until after you release our brethren,” he said. The video showed footage of about 100 girls sitting on the floor, all with matching robes and head scarves. Shekau claimed that these were the kidnapped girls, and that many of them had already converted to Islam. “These girls, these girls you occupy yourselves with... we have indeed liberated them. These girls have become Muslims.”
responsibility, and threatening to sell the girls, the Islamist militant
group has remained silent on why the girls were taken and what it
really intends to do with them. Until now.
In a video released on Monday, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shakau,
smiling and cradling what looks like an AK-47, said that he would release
the girls in exchange for Boko Haram prisoners being held by the
Nigerian government. “We will never release them until after you release
our brethren,” he said. The video showed footage of about 100 girls
sitting on the floor, all with matching robes and head scarves. Shekau
claimed that these were the kidnapped girls, and that many of them had
already converted to Islam. “These girls, these girls you occupy
yourselves with... we have indeed liberated them. These girls have become
Muslims.”
For President Jonathan, there’s no easy way out of this mess.For President Jonathan, there’s no easy way out of this mess.
Shekau’s is a strange form of liberation: a conversion made under Shekau’s is a strange form of liberation: a conversion made under duress, at the barrel of a gun, does not seem worth celebrating. And his ‘liberation’ may mean precisely the opposite for the girls involved: Shekau indicates that only the girls who have not converted to Islam will be exchanged.
duress, at the barrel of a gun, does not seem worth celebrating. And his
‘liberation’ may mean precisely the opposite for the girls involved:
Shekau indicates that only the girls who have not converted to Islam will be exchanged.
Then again, much of what Shekau does is at odds with his self-proclaimed beliefs. Muslim leaders in Nigeria and all over the world have condemned Boko Haram’s tactics, which include kidnapping, murder and assault.Then again, much of what Shekau does is at odds with his self-proclaimed beliefs. Muslim leaders in Nigeria and all over the world have condemned Boko Haram’s tactics, which include kidnapping, murder and assault.
The new video is an important development in a situation which has The new video is an important development in a situation which has finally grabbed the world’s attention. If its contents can be relied upon, then it reveals that most of the girls are alive and well, and that there may be some way out of this nightmare for them. Crucially, it reveals that Boko Haram are prepared to negotiate, as political analyst Ryan Cummings pointed out.
finally grabbed the world’s attention. “Boko Haram already are or likely will use the hostages to negotiate some form of concessions from the Nigerian government,” said Cummings. “This could either see the Chibok girls being exchanged for Boko Haram detainees and/or to extort a ransom payment or other material assets. Any such outcome will not only seek to strengthen the operational capacity of the sect, but do so to the detriment of the Nigerian government. By drawing as much attention to the incident as it has, Boko Haram has placed itself in an extremely strong bargaining position.”
If its contents can be relied upon, then it reveals that most of the Cummings is right. When it comes to negotiating, Boko Haram are in a much stronger position – especially given that Nigerian authorities still don’t know where the girls are being held.
girls are alive and well, and that there may be some way out of this
nightmare for them. Crucially, it reveals that Boko Haram are prepared
to negotiate, as political analyst Ryan Cummings pointed out.
“Boko Haram already are or likely will use the hostages to negotiate
some form of concessions from the Nigerian government,” said Cummings.
“This could either see the Chibok girls being exchanged for Boko Haram
detainees and/or to extort a ransom payment or other material assets.
Any such outcome will not only seek to strengthen the operational
capacity of the sect, but do so to the detriment of the Nigerian
government. By drawing as much attention to the incident as it has, Boko
Haram has placed itself in an extremely strong bargaining position.”
Cummings is right. When it comes to negotiating, Boko Haram are in a
much stronger position – especially given that Nigerian authorities
still don’t know where the girls are being held.
When it comes to negotiating, Boko Haram are in a much stronger positionWhen it comes to negotiating, Boko Haram are in a much stronger position
So far, the closest the government has got to the girls is a claim So far, the closest the government has got to the girls is a claim from Borno State governor Kashim Shetty, who said on Monday that the girls have been “sighted” and that their location has been passed on to the relevant military authorities. This claim should be treated with plenty of suspicion – there have been several supposed sightings, and other reports suggesting the girls have either been forced to marry their Boko Haram captors or are being trafficked in modern-day slave markets. It is telling that Shetty’s claim has yet to be confirmed by the federal government.
from Borno State governor Kashim Shetty, who said on Monday that the This puts President Goodluck Jonathan in an impossibly situation. On the one hand, there is the almost irresistible public pressure to #bringbackourgirls (say what you like about the effectiveness of social media campaigns, but this one has almost single-handedly driven the increased attention on situation, internationally at least). If there really is a chance to bring some of the girls back, in exchange for a few prisoners, then surely Jonathan needs to take it? Bolstering this argument is the fact that any military raid on the girls’ location would be extremely dangerous, both for the forces involved and the girls themselves. Boko Haram are heavily armed and experienced fighters, and would not go down without a very bloody fight.
girls have been “sighted” and that their location has been passed on to
the relevant military authorities. This claim should be treated with
plenty of suspicion – there have been several supposed sightings, and
other reports suggesting the girls have either been forced to marry
their Boko Haram captors or are being trafficked in modern-day slave
markets. It is telling that Shetty’s claim has yet to be confirmed by
the federal government.
This puts President Goodluck Jonathan in an impossibly situation. On
the one hand, there is the almost irresistible public pressure to
#bringbackourgirls (say what you like about the effectiveness of social
media campaigns, but this one has almost single-handedly driven the
increased attention on situation, internationally at least). If there
really is a chance to bring some of the girls back, in exchange for a
few prisoners, then surely Jonathan needs to take it? Bolstering this
argument is the fact that any military raid on the girls’ location would
be extremely dangerous, both for the forces involved and the girls
themselves. Boko Haram are heavily armed and experienced fighters, and
would not go down without a very bloody fight.
If there really is a chance to bring some of the girls back, in exchange for a few prisoners, then surely Jonathan needs to take it?If there really is a chance to bring some of the girls back, in exchange for a few prisoners, then surely Jonathan needs to take it?
On the other hand, a prisoner exchange sets a very dangerous On the other hand, a prisoner exchange sets a very dangerous precedent. It might encourage Boko Haram to do it again, or spark copycat attacks (there are no shortage of groups in Nigeria with an axe – or an AK-47 – to grind against the Nigerian government). There’s also a simple question of trust: even if he did issue some presidential pardons, Jonathan can’t really guarantee that Boko Haram would uphold their side of the deal.
precedent. It might encourage Boko Haram to do it again, or spark The sheer volume of publicity generated by the abductions could also mitigate against a negotiated settlement. The awareness campaign has put the Nigerian government in the spotlight, embarrassing it badly. It could also have the unintended outcome of making it harder for the government to make any kind of compromise with Boko Haram, as this would be considered an even greater humiliation for a very proud country.
copycat attacks (there are no shortage of groups in Nigeria with an axe –
or an AK-47 – to grind against the Nigerian government). There’s also a
simple question of trust: even if he did issue some presidential
pardons, Jonathan can’t really guarantee that Boko Haram would uphold
their side of the deal.
The sheer volume of publicity generated by the abductions could also
mitigate against a negotiated settlement. The awareness campaign has put
the Nigerian government in the spotlight, embarrassing it badly. It
could also have the unintended outcome of making it harder for the
government to make any kind of compromise with Boko Haram, as this would
be considered an even greater humiliation for a very proud country.
On the other hand, a prisoner exchange sets a very dangerous precedentOn the other hand, a prisoner exchange sets a very dangerous precedent
It is perhaps significant in this context that the US has sent It is perhaps significant in this context that the US has sent military, intelligence and law enforcement advisors to assist in the search for the missing girls. George W Bush famously said that “no nation can negotiate with terrorists”, and this mantra has defined US counter-terrorism policy since 9/11. The American advisors will be telling President Jonathan to stand firm, and to back a military solution – this, after all, has been the American approach towards Al-Qaida in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Yemen (this tactic has had limited success: it may have damaged Al-Qaida and prevented large-scale terrorist attacks on western targets, but only at the expense of civilian lives in the targeted countries). The US has already offered to assist the Nigerian authorities with surveillance drones operated out of its base in Niger. Anxious to protect its sovereignty, Nigeria has so far declined the offer (there’s that pride thing again).
military, intelligence and law enforcement advisors to assist in the For President Jonathan, there’s no easy way out of this mess. At the moment, Boko Haram holds all the cards – 276 of them, to be precise. And the hapless Nigerian government doesn’t even know where the game is being played.
search for the missing girls. George W Bush famously said that “no
nation can negotiate with terrorists”, and this mantra has defined US
counter-terrorism policy since 9/11. The American advisors will be
telling President Jonathan to stand firm, and to back a military
solution – this, after all, has been the American approach towards Al-Qaida in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Yemen (this tactic has had
limited success: it may have damaged Al-Qaida and prevented large-scale
terrorist attacks on western targets, but only at the expense of
civilian lives in the targeted countries). The US has already offered
to assist the Nigerian authorities with surveillance drones operated
out of its base in Niger. Anxious to protect its sovereignty, Nigeria
has so far declined the offer (there’s that pride thing again).
For President Jonathan, there’s no easy way out of this mess. At the
moment, Boko Haram holds all the cards – 276 of them, to be precise. And
the hapless Nigerian government doesn’t even know where the game is
being played.