IN a rather surprising fallout of the US-Africa Summit with over 40 presidents and heads of state from Africa, including President Jonathan Goodluck, in attendance, US President Barack Obama has decided to leave Nigeria out of its multi-million-dollar effort to support peacekeepers from Africa.

Although Nigeria still has considerable promises and offers of support coming out of the week-long summit, the significance of the isolation of the country in an area (peacekeeping) it has been adjudged to be critically visible is revealing.

According to President Obama, who announced a series of American support and initiatives generated from the summit, the US government would be creating what it called “the African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership (APRRP, “A-Prep” for short), with “a new investment of $110 million per year for three to five years to build the capacity of African militaries to rapidly deploy peacekeepers in response to emerging conflict, a concept that holds powerful life-saving potential.”

Observers, including those at the UN consider Nigeria among the topmost contributors of international peacekeepers in the world and especially in Africa based on its record in the last few decades.

Indeed the US has been very active in supporting Nigerian peacekeepers, who are deployed either on the platform of the United Nations or those of the African Union in the past. What is not clear is whether the non-inclusion of Nigeria from this new effort is a new indicator of what is to come generally or merely an isolated incident.

Specifically, President Obama said the nations the US would initiate the programme with are Senegal, Ghana, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The statement by the US said it will “develop a rapid response capability programme by building improved capacity in areas such as military training, equipment maintenance and repair, institutional support and interoperability with other Africa-based peacekeeping forces.”

According to the US government, it “strongly supports the work of more than 67,000 African peacekeepers serving with the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) in Africa. These men and women are working to protect civilians, prevent violence, and promote security and stability in many of Africa’s most complex conflicts.”

But US sources explain that the non-inclusion of Nigeria from this (APRRP, “A-Prep is likely as a result of the allegations against the Nigerian military and security agencies regarding human rights abuses and violations in their operations especially in the ongoing insurgency in the Northeastern part of Nigeria.



In fact, the US Congress under what is known as the Leahy amendment, is outlawed from supporting any military that is known to be involved in gross acts of human rights violations and abuses. Notably during the just concluded US-Africa Summit, the Amnesty International (AI) released a very damning footage that alleged serious human rights abuses and violations against the Nigerian military. But often times the Nigerian military has denied such allegations.

However, there are still several offers, including in the areas of terrorism that the Nigerian security agencies like the military would still be supported.

For instance, during the summit, the US President announced that “the United States is building strong partnerships with countries to address critical terrorist threats on the front lines in order to confront the threat at its roots.”

In that regard, the US specifically mentioned “confronting Boko Haram.”

According to the statement, the US said “we are deeply concerned by Boko Haram’s ongoing attacks against Nigeria’s citizens, civil institutions, and infrastructure, including the group’s April 2014 kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls. To support the Nigerian-led efforts to combat Boko Haram, we are providing an array of military, law enforcement, and intelligence support, such as counter-Improvised Explosive Device training and forensics training.

The statement added that the US will also be “supporting the efforts of Nigeria and its neighbors to increase regional cooperation to combat Boko Haram. Because the specter of terrorism requires more than just a security response, we have also worked to encourage and support the Nigerian government’s efforts to promote development in northern Nigeria, including boosting health, education, and social service delivery. Our security cooperation also supports the professionalisation of key military units and underscores that effective counterterrorism policies and practices are those that respect human rights and are underpinned by the rule of law.”

davitogreat: Right... So giving the funds to ghana, Rwanda and Uganda is so much better. Funny seeing the stupid comments in the thread.
I swear Nigerians can sometimes be some of the most stupid people you can ever come across. They think by by speaking ill of nigeria in every situation they are enlightened and forward thinking when Infact it's the opposite.

davitogreat: Right... So giving the funds to ghana, Rwanda and Uganda is so much better. Funny seeing the stupid comments in the thread.
I swear Nigerians can sometimes be some of the most stupid people you can ever come across. They think by by speaking ill of nigeria in every situation they are enlightened and forward thinking when Infact it's the opposite.

RoyalRoy:

What's bad about saying the truth as it is?

All the posters before you said the bitter truth. Should we be parting our leaders on the back when they are seriously messing up?

Is that how you live your life? Licking other people's asss so as not to hurt their feelings ?

Be a man and stand for the truth always no matter how difficult and hard it is. That is what defines a man!!


Shalom.

dontjealousme: Two more years Obama will no longer be relevant. That is not a problem. I also notice the nations are predominantly east-africans where he is from and only two west africans.

Only problem is Nigeria will break in 2015, if the born to rule mentality is not dropped to allow power rotation. Yoru-hausa team up will break Nigeria. I have said my own!

uken73: Nigeria has always been a major contributor if not the highest contributor to African Peace. Excluding Nigeria may only be because we are seen as capable and they are trying to help others to their feet so that they can contribute too. This may be the idea behind this.

smackimorn: I think it's because of the Gay shiit
Dem dn dey sanction us with style

Lubbish!

myds890: I believe the American and EU governments have finally realised that any fund is sent Nigeria is looted by polithieves and never used for its main purpose. And probably also that Nigeria is capable of funding itself but the funds are always looted by corrupt and incompetent "leaders".

Nigeria shouldn't lament. We deserve everything that's coming to us

davitogreat: Right... So giving the funds to ghana, Rwanda and Uganda is so much better. Funny seeing the stupid comments in the thread.
I swear Nigerians can sometimes be some of the most stupid people you can ever come across. They think by by speaking ill of nigeria in every situation they are enlightened and forward thinking when Infact it's the opposite.

davitogreat:

Your just typing nonsense. My comment had nothing to do with feelings. Or licking ass.

It's all about facts. If the Americans see it fit to share defense funds with Uganda, ghana and Rwanda. ( countries with very questionable corrupt/shady governments and institutions)

Uganda- very corrupt. Government has history of abuse. Also history of using child soldiers.
Ghana- very corrupt and is a poster boy on how NOT to run your economy
Rwanda- though Rwanda has made great improvements economically Kagames government has also been very oppressive towards opposition and anyone who speaks ill of his government. Has played a role in assassinating journalists and opposition members in Rwanda and even outside the country.
Plus lets not forget rwanda and uganda have been caught assisting rebels who are destabilizing the congo.

So with all that What makes it right to skip Nigeria? Jonathan with all his faults is not as bad as the leaders of these countries.

nigeria is one of the worlds leading peace keeping nations and a country that does and has done a lot for Africa. So it's logical to work closely with such a country if one is looking to further peace in Africa.

davitogreat:

Your just typing nonsense. My comment had nothing to do with feelings. Or licking ass.

It's all about facts. If the Americans see it fit to share defense funds with Uganda, ghana and Rwanda. ( countries with very questionable corrupt/shady governments and institutions)

Uganda- very corrupt. Government has history of abuse. Also history of using child soldiers.
Ghana- very corrupt and is a poster boy on how NOT to run your economy
Rwanda- though Rwanda has made great improvements economically Kagames government has also been very oppressive towards opposition and anyone who speaks ill of his government. Has played a role in assassinating journalists and opposition members in Rwanda and even outside the country.
Plus lets not forget rwanda and uganda have been caught assisting rebels who are destabilizing the congo.

So with all that What makes it right to skip Nigeria? Jonathan with all his faults is not as bad as the leaders of these countries.

nigeria is one of the worlds leading peace keeping nations and a country that does and has done a lot for Africa. So it's logical to work closely with such a country if one is looking to further peace in Africa.