Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)

Origins, Objectives & DoctrinesJames Banks

• Increase of Infrastructure

• Ousting of foreign oil companies & Nigerian Military

• “Operation Barbarossa”

• Joint ownership of oil industry in the Niger Delta

• Social Equality

Doctrine & Objectives

Origins

• Oil boom in 1970

• Arrest of Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in 2005

• Arrest of Alhaji Asari-Dokubo in 2005

• Arrest of Chief Ebitimi Banigo

Origins Continued

• Arrests led to first attacks in 2005

• Multiple militant groups decided to pool resources together

Conclusion

Will MEND reach its objectives?

•Some, but not all

MEND: LeadershipJames Freeman

• Unclear by design

• Umbrella Organization

• Amnesty deals

• Imprisoned or dead

Henry Okah

• One founder

• Several arrests

• Imprisonment in Nigeria and South Africa

Gbomo and Boyloaf

• Gbomo is the spokesperson

• Actual Identity

unknown

• Boyloaf commander

of Central MEND

• Accepted Amnesty

deal in 2012

Umbrella Organization

• Each group has its leader

• No evidence of central leadership currently

MEND: Support, Finances and RecruitmentStephanie Boehles

Support and Strength

• Popular community support

and sympathy

• An “idea”not an organization

• Joint Revolutionary Council

• International sympathy

Recruitment and Membership

• Exact numbers are unknown

• Ethnic majority Ijaw

• Unemployed, educated youths

• Local community groups

• Other regional groups

Finances

• Self funded

• Oil bunkering

• Kidnapping/ ransom

• Security

MEND’s Strategies, Methods & TargetsEugenia Kowalchuk

Attacks on oil infrastructure

Kidnaping of oil personnel

Reducing Nigeria’s oil export capacity

Increasing crude oil prices

Participation of the Nigerian people in oil production activities

Increased quality of life of Nigerian citizens

Types of Aggressions

● Attacks on oil infrastructure○ Pipelines○ Transfer stations○ Oil vessels

● Most attacks perpetrated in the oil rich south region

Types of Aggressions (cont.)

● Kidnapping of oil personnel

● Non-violence towards civilians

● Negotiating partners

Purpose of Aggressions

● Reduce Nigeria’s oil export capacity● Increase crude oil prices

Goal

Increase participation of the Nigerian people in oil production activities in order to increase the quality of life of Nigerian citizens.

Success?

• Not the overall goal, but...

• Oil output went down by 25%

• Increase in oil prices

CounterTerrorism Ryan Neilson

3 Key Players

1.Nigerian Government

2.Royal Dutch Shell

3.United Nations

Nigerian Government

• Initial aggressive approacho “Kill them all” “force for force”o Joint Task Force

• New President Umaru Yar’Adua in

2007 o Policy changeo Led to Amnesty offer in 2009

Royal Dutch Shell

• Paramilitary Useo Armed Securityo Helicopters

• Does not directly use

Nigerian Soldiers

United Nations

• Minimal Role

• No Peacekeepers

• United Nations Development Program

• Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force -

Conclusion

Some counterterrorism methods were more effective than others.

1.UN defined their role as more of a moderator

2.Initial Nigerian Response was ineffective

3.Amnesty for rebels was mostly successful

4.Royal Dutch Shell continues its interest in the region with caution