The Organisation of African Unity And Its Mediatory Role In The Nigerian Civil War: A Historical Assessment

Abstract

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This is a survey research. The study examined the role of the OAU in mediating peace during Nigeria’s civil war of 1967 to 1970. Its basic objectives were to: document the various mediatory talks organised by the OAU during the conflict; identify the factors that spurred the OAU to mediate in the war and; analyse the factors that inhibited the success of OAU’s mediatory efforts to broker peace between the belligerent parties. Data for this paper was obtained from both primary and secondary sources including relevant books, journal articles, newspaper publications, archival materials and OAU resolutions. The research method adopted was content analysis of historical documents. The paper found out that the OAU’s mediatory intervention ended up as an exercise in futility. The organisation’s Charter’s prohibition of intervention in internal conflicts of member states; bias on the part of the mediators in favour of Nigeria, as well as mistrust and uncompromising stand of the belligerents, among others, accounted for this failure. The study concluded that despite its failure to bring an end to the war through the diplomatic method of mediation, the OAU deserves commendation for its concerted efforts at promoting peace not only in Nigeria, but across the African continent at large.   

This is a survey research. The study examined the role of the OAU in mediating peace during Nigeria’s civil war of 1967 to 1970. Its basic objectives were to: document the various mediatory talks organised by the OAU during the conflict; identify the factors that spurred the OAU to mediate in the war and; analyse the factors that inhibited the success of OAU’s mediatory efforts to broker peace between the belligerent parties. Data for this paper was obtained from both primary and secondary sources including relevant books, journal articles, newspaper publications, archival materials and OAU resolutions. The research method adopted was content analysis of historical documents. The paper found out that the OAU’s mediatory intervention ended up as an exercise in futility. The organisation’s Charter’s prohibition of intervention in internal conflicts of member states; bias on the part of the mediators in favour of Nigeria, as well as mistrust and uncompromising stand of the belligerents, among others, accounted for this failure. The study concluded that despite its failure to bring an end to the war through the diplomatic method of mediation, the OAU deserves commendation for its concerted efforts at promoting peace not only in Nigeria, but across the African continent at large.