NIGERIA: ISRAEL/GAZA CONFLICT INSPIRES PROTESTS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000036 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA, S/CT, NEA/IPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL NI CD NG SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ISRAEL/GAZA CONFLICT INSPIRES PROTESTS IN NORTH REF: ABUJA 2494 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Lisa Piascik for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) . ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: From January 2-6, several media outlets reported that Nigeria's mostly Muslim north is condemning Israeli military strike in Gaza. Muslim groups also criticized the United States, European Union, the United Nations, as well as some Arab nations, which they claimed have done nothing to stop the violence. In Kano, groups of Muslims staged various demonstrations and prayer sessions from on January 2-4 and called on the GON to break diplomatic relations with Israel. No violence or threat of violence has been reported; however, the issue has evoked considerable emotion among the Muslim community. The GON has made no official statements, with the exception of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan's joint press conference with Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria Moshe Ram in which they assured the safety of Nigerians in Israel. While external factors can spark existing tensions and lead to violence in the north, most ethnic or religious conflict in Nigeria has its roots in socio-economic issues rather than religious differences, particularly among youth, which make up the largest demographic in Nigeria. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Islamic Forum of Nigeria's (IFN) National Secretary Usman Jibrin issued a press release on January 2, condemning Israel's actions in Gaza and its "continued occupation and extension of Islamic lands. He further condemned the United States, United Nations, European Union and other European countries for their support of Israel. The statement read in part, "Israel has been unleashing unprecedented air strikes against innocent Palestinians, who have been under Israeli siege and hardship for sixty years with the whole world watching with either amusement or less concern." The IFN also criticized Arab nations, specifically the Arab League, for its "careless attitude" and for "remaining mute or doing very little to stop the carnage." In an obvious reference to western nations, the IFN questioned "Where are the champions of democracy and humanitarians (sic)?" The IFN also called for an immediate cessation to Israel's invasion of Gaza and appropriate sanctions against Israel. ¶3. (SBU) Newspapers reported on January 4 that Muslim youth groups are also condemning the Gaza attack. The National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO) told the press that it "condemns in its entirety the Israeli genocides in killing of defenseless women, men, and children as well as bombings and destruction of mosques, homes and other public infrastructure in Gaza causing the death of about 600 people in seven days." NACOMYO also criticized "the disposition of western governments, especially the USG8, which it describes as a "clear manifestation of lack of respect for its claim to be the custodian of human rights principles and practices." In a press release signed by its National President, Lawal Maidoki, and National Legal Advisor, Abdul Wahab Oyedokun, NACOMYO commended the efforts of the UN Secretary General and "other peace loving world leaders who have spoken out against this Israeli murderous adventure." Relating the Gaza conflict to recent events in Nigeria, NACOMYO also condemned the death and destruction that occurred late last year in Jos, accusing the state government of inflaming tensions, (reftel). ¶4. (SBU) National media also reported on January 5 that "thousands" of Shiite Muslims in Kano staged various peaceful demonstrations and prayer sessions from January 2-4 to express dismay over Israel's air strike on Gaza. The Muslim group Sheikh Ibrahim Zak-zaky's Islamic Movement (SIZIM) demonstrated at a mosque in Kano to protest what it described as a "gargantuan injustice and merciless genocide by the Zionist state of Israel on the Palestinians of Gaza." The group also called on the Federal Government to cut diplomatic relations with Israel. It was reported that another SIZIM leader, Sheikh Muhammad Mahmud Turi, flew Palestinian flags, chanting curses toward Israel. Turi told reporters and protesters that "Israel is a coward that cannot fight in the front but only resort to injustice." He also claimed that the recent events in Gaza are "the beginning of the end of the Zionist state," adding that "the illegitimate nation will ABUJA 00000036 002 OF 002 soon cease to exist." ¶5. (SBU) On January 5, press also reported the Muslim group Jama'atut Tajdidil Islamy (JTI) reportedly set fire to Israeli and American flags after prayers at the Kano city Central mosque. JTI leader Mallam Abdullahi Salihu Aikawa characterized Israel as an "illegitimate and merciless country." Aikawa asserted that "for a long time Israel has been cooking any flimsy reason on which to camouflage for assault on the Palestinians." A special prayer session was attended by hundreds of Kano residents to "summon divine intervention on the happenings in the Middle East." They also offered Islamic funeral prayer in absentia to the Palestinians that were killed in the strikes. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: While Nigeria's Muslim community appears angered over Israel's offensive in Gaza, there have been no reports of violence or public threats of violence as a result. The demonstrations reported in the press appear isolated and of local rather than national reach. In addition, Embassy contacts reported no demonstrations in Gombe, Jos, Gusau, Kano, and Sokoto. Sokoto (the spiritual center Islamic community in Nigeria) and Kano (the largest city in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north) tend to be bellwethers for the north. While external factors such as the 2002 Miss World contest and the 2006 Danish cartoons sparked existing tensions and led to violence in the north, most ethnic or religious conflict in Nigeria has its roots in socio-economic issues rather than religious differences, particularly among youth, which make up the largest demographic in Nigeria. We will continue to watch both of these cities carefully, as well as the north in general, for signs of increasing tension. Piascik