Rebels in the pipeline: Britain training counter-insurgent army
source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/britain-to-train-army-in-nigeria-to-combat-de...
-
-
- Dmitri_Molotov
- added this
"Gordon Brown will offer British help to the Nigerian government – to fight rebels in the oil-producing Niger delta – at a meeting in London next week with President Umaru Yar'Adua, Downing Street said.
The prospect of British intervention in the delta conflict has prompted the end of a ceasefire in the region and drawn accusations of neo-colonialism from rebel groups. They also accuse the Nigerian government of illegal actions.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the focus will be on providing training for the Nigerian military. He said: "Oil supply from Nigeria has been undermined by insecurity in the Niger delta. This is bad for the local population, bad for workers, bad for the Nigerian government and the stability of the whole region. The President of Nigeria is visiting London next week and the Prime Minister will have an opportunity to discuss these issues with him then."
Mr Brown's statement on Wednesday that Britain stood "ready to give help to the Nigerians to deal with the lawlessness that exists in this area and to achieve levels of production that Nigeria is capable of", led to a rebel group called the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) to say it will call off its ceasefire today."
By Kim Sengupta
The prospect of British intervention in the delta conflict has prompted the end of a ceasefire in the region and drawn accusations of neo-colonialism from rebel groups. They also accuse the Nigerian government of illegal actions.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the focus will be on providing training for the Nigerian military. He said: "Oil supply from Nigeria has been undermined by insecurity in the Niger delta. This is bad for the local population, bad for workers, bad for the Nigerian government and the stability of the whole region. The President of Nigeria is visiting London next week and the Prime Minister will have an opportunity to discuss these issues with him then."
Mr Brown's statement on Wednesday that Britain stood "ready to give help to the Nigerians to deal with the lawlessness that exists in this area and to achieve levels of production that Nigeria is capable of", led to a rebel group called the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) to say it will call off its ceasefire today."
By Kim Sengupta
-
- groups:
- News and Politics, Politics, Rebels
-
- tags:
- News and Politics, Politics, UK, World, 8 more
-
-
Libertas
-
Another example of interventionism.
Oil is the reason and unintended consequences, the result.
- 3 years ago
-
Libertas
-
-
mischabarrett
-
-
This is obviously a very difficult situation - it's hard to shake off the feeling that if oil wasn't involved, neither would we be. At the same time, this region is afflicted with a desperately corrupt and violent gang culture, which just cannot go on. You can read the Human Rights Watch report on the ongoing situation at the link.
Original Current posting with video: http://current.com/items/89095341_an_african_oil_war
- 3 years ago
-
mischabarrett
-
