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Title: | An elusive target: Nigeria fends off sanctions |
Author: | Sklar, Richard L.![]() |
Year: | 1997 |
Periodical: | Polis: revue camerounaise de science politique |
Volume: | 4 |
Issue: | 2 |
Pages: | 19-38 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Nigeria |
Subjects: | foreign policy sanctions |
Abstract: | Nigeria was targeted by a formidable coalition, including the European Union, South Africa, Canada, and the United States, in November and December 1995 following the Ogoni executions. Commonwealth leaders suspended Nigeria's membership in the organization for two years, and threatened to expel Nigeria if power had not been transferred to a civilian government by that time. The United States and members of the EU, amongst others, imposed or tightened various noneconomic sanctions, involving restrictions on diplomatic privilege and military cooperation. The ruling military regime of General Sani Abacha resolved to resist the demands of its adversaries, both foreign and domestic. It sought and gained allies in Africa and Asia, and registered striking diplomatic successes in both the OAU and the UN. This article discusses Nigeria's initiatives and the resources which enabled it to resist coercion and to mount an effective counterattack. It finds that the junta's resilience is attributable to the combined support of a broadly-based domestic political coalition (that has been far stronger than the active domestic opposition) and transnational business corporations, mainly oil companies, which lobbied successfully in Britain, continental Europe and the United States to defeat proposals for economic sanctions. Bibliogr., notes, ref. |