NIGERIA: COVENTRY CATHEDRAL CALLS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000206 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, AF/EX AND INR/AA STATE PASS TO USTR-AGAMA GABARONE FOR PHIL DROUIN TREASURY FOR PETERS AND HALL DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS AND 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS USAID/AFR/WA FOR TWAY, USAID/AFR/SD JHILL, AND UNSAID/EGAT MOTT E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2018 TAGS: PGOV KCOR KCRM NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: COVENTRY CATHEDRAL CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION IN NIGER DELTA CONFLICT REF: LAGOS 182 Classified By: Consul General Donna Blair, Reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) Summary: In a roughly 300-page report released February 10, the UK based Coventry Cathedral Centre for Reconciliation, one of the world's oldest religious-based centers for reconciliation and conflict resolution founded after WWII as a way to move beyond a desire for revenge against former enemies, called pervasive corruption the key factor contributing to the crisis in the Niger Delta and said that the lack of trust between the parties was an obstacle to peace that could best be overcome through a neutral international mediator. The plundering of the Nigerian economy is responsible for the lack of development and the destruction of the social order in the Delta, he report said, noting that the scale of oil theft suggests that senior Nigerian officials are involved. Coventry advocates amnesty and demobilization of militants, the terms of which should be uniform across the Niger Delta, as well as weapons destruction conducted in accordance with international standards, but warns that sustainable demobilization of militants can only be effected if there are jobs, training and small business opportunities for demobilized non-state actors. The report recommended steps for establishing a cease-fire, and identified the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Niger Delta People Volunteer Force (NDPVF) as the only two groups that could reasonably be considered political militants. While Post sees little prospect that the necessary prerequisites for a sustainable peace can be established in the foreseeable future, Coventry's report, like so many others, is urging that Nigeria, with the assistance of the international community, should try. End Summary. Political Exploitation of Ethnic Clashes -------------- ¶2. (U) Coventry Cathedral's Centre for Reconciliation released on February 10 a report titled "Peace and Reconciliation in the Niger Delta," drafted by Canon Dr. Stephen Davis, Canon Emeritus at Coventry Cathedral. (Note: Coventry Cathedral's International Centre for Reconciliation is one of the world's oldest centers for conflict resolution, founded after WWII as a way to move beyond a desire for revenge against former enemies towards reconciliation and a positive shared future. Canon Stephen Davis, former director of the Centre, lived in the Niger Delta and played a pivotal role in the 2004 Niger Delta Peace Accord. End Note.) This report outlined the history and causes of the current conflict, identified the prerequisites for a sustainable settlement, and suggested steps for establishing a cease-fire. Coventry Cathedral blames the political exploitation of ethnic tension for the escalation of violence in the Niger Delta occurring since the elections in 1999 and escalating after the 2003 elections. The armed groups initially created by politicians to secure electoral victories, the report says, have become financially independent of their political patrons, branched out into other illegal activities such as oil theft and kidnapping, and purchased increasingly sophisticated weapons. Coventry Cathedral identifies the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Niger Delta Peoples' Volunteer Force (NDPVF) as the only two groups that could "reasonably be considered" political militants. (Note: the report does not attempt to define who MEND actually is and credits all incidents claimed by MEND as MEND actions. Multiple reliable sources have told Post that whoever is currently claiming to be MEND now takes credit for actions carried out by various groups after the fact. In the past, MEND announced its planned actions in advance, but this has not been the case for some time. End Note.) LAGOS 00000206 002 OF 003 Corruption Fuels Violence -------------- ¶3. (U) The report states that "the plundering of the Nigerian economy" is responsible for lack of development and has destroyed respect for the social order. Furthermore, the report continues, "corruption and collusion with criminals in the national and state security forces renders law enforcement largely ineffective in dealing with issues such as illegal oil bunkering." The report notes that the scale of the oil theft suggests that senior Nigerian officials are involved. Unemployment Leads To Social Disintegration -------------- ¶4. (U) Corruption has diverted both government funds and investment by international oil companies (IOCs) away from the development projects needed to create infrastructure and employment, the report states, going on to argue that poverty and high levels of youth unemployment are "the ingredients of crime." Lack of gainful employment combined with the absence of effective law enforcement has led to a situation in which traditional authority and values have been seriously undermined. Peace Unsustainable without Development -------------- ¶5. (U) The report states unequivocally that any attempts to deal constructively with the conflict in the Niger Delta "must address the roots of the conflict such as ethnic differences, poverty, high unemployment, corruption, revenue distribution and electoral malpractice." The report says that sustainable demobilization of non-state combatants can only be effected if there are sufficient employment, training and small-business opportunities for the former combatants. Each state government, the report argues, must have a comprehensive development plan, and progress toward development must be independently monitored. The report advocates greater levels of transparency in the oil industry to eliminate the massive on-going oil theft. Furthermore, border and customs controls, the report states, must be improved to stop the flow of illegal arms into the country, and the influence of political godfathers must be curtailed. Most important, if peace is to be sustainable, corruption must be consistently addressed "with successful prosecutions and sentences that fit the crimes" in order to end the "nexus of illegal arms, oil theft, and money laundering." International Involvement in Peace Process Necessary -------------- -------------- 6 (U) The report recommends the involvement of a neutral international mediator to help overcome the mistrust between the parties. Coventry Cathedral also advocates amnesty and demobilization, the terms of which must be uniform across all the states of the Niger Delta and which must be publicized. Weapons destruction must, the report says, be conducted under international scrutiny. Assistance with reintegration into society and employment opportunities must be provided to both former militants, particularly women, and police. ¶7. (C) Comment: While the analysis of the causes of the conflict is insightful and the conclusions logical, Post sees little prospect that the necessary prerequisites for a sustainable peace can be established in the foreseeable future. Most significantly, without an end to corruption and plundering of state resources, a modicum of transparency in the oil industry and funding for development, peace will not be forthcoming. Yet, as the report points out, "an all out LAGOS 00000206 003 OF 003 assault on corruption in Nigeria would likely destabilize the Federal Government." While there is no clear way out of the vicious circle of corruption, oil-theft, and violence in the Niger Delta, Coventry,s report, like so many others, appears to be urging that Nigeria, with the assistance of the international community, should try. End Comment. ¶8. (U) This cable has been cleared by Embassy Abuja. BLAIR