LOOKING FOR THE CAUSES OF THE BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY

Religious Conflict in Nigeria

M AT H I A S D E B A E T S (S0215946 )

TURNING OUR ATTENTION TOWARDS NIGERIA

Introduction

The Chibok Schoolgirls Kidnapping

In the night of the 14th and 15th of April 2014, an organisation known as Boko Haram attacked the town of Chibok, Nigeria

During the attack, Boko Haram managed to kidnap 276 schoolgirls from this secondary school

International Outrage

Parents of the abducted schoolgirls used social media to complain about the lack of adequate response from the Nigerian government

Protest rapidly gained attention and the story of what had happened began to spread internationally

International media attention for the mass kidnapping spread awareness of the existence of Boko Haram

ORIGINS AND HISTORY OF AN EXTREMIST ORGANISATION

Boko Haram

Beginning of Boko Haram

In 2002 Mohammed Yusuf founded the sect Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'Awati Wal-Jihad, more commonly known as Boko Haram

Islamist sect with very radical ideas: Opposition to Westernisation (cf. Boko Haram, meaning

‘Western education is prohibited’) Establishment of an Islamic state or khalifate in Nigeria Strict form of sharia law

During seven years, the organisation kept a low profile and did not use violence extensively

2009 Uprising

On the 26th of July 2009 Boko Haram members started attacking police stations and governmental buildings throughout the northeast of Nigeria

The Nigerian government responded by dispatching armed forces, who are currently accused of summarily executing captured Boko Haram members

On the 29th of July, Nigerian security forces had quelled the hostilities, but around a thousand people had died in the process

Consequences of the 2009 Uprising

Boko Haram’s leader Mohammed Yusuf was killed while in police custody and he was succeeded by Abubakar Shekau

The Nigerian government banned Boko Haram and it was generally assumed that Boko Haram had been crushed…

Boko Haram Insurgency

It was only the start of a full-scale insurgency, however

In September of 2010, Boko Haram manages to free 721 of their members from prison

Boko Haram quickly regrouped under their new leader, Abubakar Shekau

Boko Haram Insurgency

In 2011, Boko Haram started to regularly commit attacks and bombings: Main targets are police forces and

In 2012, Boko Haram gradually shifted its attention towards Christian targets: For the second year in a row, Boko Haram manages to

attack and bomb Christian churches on Christmas Day It is estimated that Boko Haram have killed around

800 people in 2012

Boko Haram Insurgency

In 2013 Boko Haram also started to target schools and colleges more frequently

The violence continues to escalate and in 2014 more than 9000 people are killed due to/by Boko Haram, including 6000 civilians

Boko Haram continues attacking innocent civilians in 2015, already leaving thousands of civilians dead or displaced

A SOCIO -ECONOMIC AND RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE

Nigeria: a Country Divided

Different Ethnicities

Ethnic Divide in Nigeria

Most African countries are an amalgam of different ethnicities due to colonialism

Nigeria’s population is made up out of more than 250 ethnic groups

Three major ethnic groups: Hausa-Fulani (29% of the population) in the north Yoruba (21%) in the southwest Igbo (18%) in the southeast

Most Boko Haram members are ethnic Kanuri (4%), who are originally from the northeast

Economic Production

Poverty Levels

Economic Divide in Nigeria

Significant difference in economic production between the north and the south

Enormous impact of Nigeria’s petroleum industry: Oil and gas reserves are concentrated around the

Niger Delta, in the south of the country Petroleum sector represents around 35% of the GDP

and petroleum exports represents over 90% of Nigeria’s exports revenue 

Low economic production of the north is reflected in increased poverty of the local population

Religious Divide in Nigeria

Nigeria lies right on the historical border between Islam and Christianity meet, which results in a majority-Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south

Nigeria’s overall population is split fifty-fifty between Muslims and Christians

Political Divide in Nigeria

Two parties dominate Nigeria’s political landscape:  The center-left All Progressives Congress (APC)  The center-right People's Democratic Party (PDP)

The north tends to vote for the APC, while the south traditionally votes for the PDP

This political split can be seen in the last two presidential elections

2011 Presidential Elections

2015 Presidential Elections

Results of the Presidential Elections

Nigeria: a Country Divided

Nigeria is divided between an impoverished, majority-Muslim north and a oil-rich, Christian south

Ethnicity still plays a significant political role: Party loyalty is still deeply influenced by ethnicity By consequence, parties only look after the interest of

their traditional electoratePolitical parties continue to emphasise

differences, e.g. ethnic or religious, to profit electorally

CAUSES OF THE BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY IN A DIVIDED COUNTRY

Conclusion

Causes for the Emergence…

Religious extremism thrives on the frustration and the poor and badly-educated young in the north of Nigeria

Prominence of the Kanuri ethnicity within the Boko Haram ranks is remarkable, however this does not necessarily mean that we can speak of a tribal insurgency

… and the Continuation of the Insurgency

Political parties rather point fingers at each others in order to profit politically: Boko Haram allegedly used as a pretext to postpone

the 2015 presidential election Opposition accused the government of intentionally

not doing enough to quell the insurgency Governor accused of financing Boko Haram

Irrelevant who is responsible, especially for the civilians who are living in fear for Boko Haram

Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Nigerian army recorded a string of military successes over Boko Haram in recent months

In May of 2015, the Nigerian military has succeeded in liberating hundreds of women of girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, however hundreds of girls are still missing…

Only the future will tell if Nigeria can properly handle the Boko Haram Insurgency and manage the divide between its northern and southern states …