MEND Announces Indefinite Cease-Fire

By Jennifer M. Haralambides
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

LAGOS, Nigeria – On Sunday MEND declared an “indefinite ceasefire” in order to pursue dialogues with the government regarding the Niger Delta region.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in a statement that because the government has “expressed it readiness to engage in serious and meaningful dialogue with every group or individual towards achieving a lasting peace in the Niger Delta,” they are willing to submit to a cease-fire while the dialogues take place.

Over the past few years, MEND’s attacks have wrecked havoc on the local oil industry.  Oil prices in the world market have been effected from the loss of revenue caused by violence and damage.  Nigeria is the world’s eight-largest oil producer, although its oil production has been reduced by one third since 2006.

Since the beginning of the oil region’s unrest, one of the key demands from MEND as been that the local communities must benefit from the region’s oil wealth.  Once President Umaru Yar’Adua met with MEND leader Henry Okah, for the first time, the announcement came that the rebel group would cease-fire and accept the government offered amnesty.

On Friday, Okah urged other rebel groups and members of MEND who have shunned the recent government amnesty, to give the peace dialogues a chance.

From the talks between Okah and Yar’Adua, it emerged that there are plans to allot ten percent of the money it makes from the Niger Delta oil to be put back into the oil producing region.  Currently the nine regions in southern Nigeria receive thirteen percent of the oil revenue.

Hundreds of oil workers, including dozens of foreigners have been targets of kidnapping by MEND and other rebel groups.  Their attacks on pipelines and offshore facilities are what caused the intense drop in revenue.  If the government and rebel groups find a way to achieve a middle ground, there may be hope for the region to find peace.

“The successful conclusion of the amnesty deal is the culmination of honest and all inclusive dialogue between the federal government and diverse stake holders in the Niger Delta,” said Information and Communications Minister Dora Akunyili.

“The achievement is unprecedented, not only in the history of Nigeria, but also throughout the world, in places where such internal disorders have occurred,” she added.

Several hundred fighters and civilians have been killed in the Niger Delta since 2006 and the oil out put has dropped from 2.6 million barrels a day to around 1.7 million.

For more information, please see:

AFP – Nigeria Rebel Group MEND Declare “Ceasefire” – 25 October 2009

AP – Nigeria Militant Group Calls Indefinite Cease-Fire – 25 October 2009

BBC – Nigeria Militants Reinstate Truce – 25 October 2009

Reuters – Nigerian Rebels Reinstate Ceasefire in Niger Delta – 25 October 2009

Xinhua News Agency – Nigeria’s Main Militant Group Announces Indefinite Ceasefire – 25 October 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive