Journal of Contemporary International Relations and Diplomacy

ECOWAS Protocol on Migration, Porous Borders and Dynamics of Armed Banditry in Nigeria

2024-01-17T11:56:02+00:00

The dialectics that have led to an explosion of free movement of persons within ECOWAS borders largely constitute a new dimension of security threats in the region. The security threats emanating from incessant human migration within the region have predictably distorted the security architecture of Nigeria, thereby posing colossal pressures on the Nigerian armed forces, as well as leading to the loss of human lives, properties, and financial resources. The study investigated how ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons and porous borders in the West African region orchestrate armed banditry in Nigeria. The work was anchored on the Qualitative-Descriptive method of analysis, and ‘inelastic political will’ was adopted as an analytical construct that explains the inability of
ECOWAS member governments as well as the Nigerian government to employ sustainable strategies in tackling the ever-changing security threat dimensions within the region. It was revealed that chaotic and explosive cross-border migration of persons in West Africa has a relationship with the new dimension of armed banditry in Nigeria. The study recommended that the ECOWAS framework that promotes the free movement of people be reviewed and amended to address current security crises in the region. Also, there is a need for the Nigerian government to reinforce viable and strong diplomatic ties with the neighboring countries such as Benin, Chat, Niger, and Cameroon regarding border infrastructure development and security enhancement mechanisms to cover ungoverned spaces in the Chad Basin Region.

The Impact of International Diplomacy on Combating Global Terrorism

2024-01-17T11:55:23+00:00

Insecurity had defined the global arena with insurgency and terrorism increasing by leaps and bounds. Therefore, defining terrorism as a discrete international crime under the purview of international law normatively recognizes and protects vital international community values and interests. The issue of terrorism symbolically expresses community condemnation, and stigmatizes offenders. In proper analysis context the paper opines that any definition of terrorism also accommodates reasonable claims to political violence, particularly against repressive governments, and this paper examines the range of exceptions, justifications, excuses, defenses, and amnesties potentially available to terrorists, as well as purported exceptions such as self-determination struggles. The paper further seeks to minimize recourse to violence, it recognizes that international law should not become complicit in oppression by criminalizing legitimate forms of political resistance and instead diplomacy can be applied in such scenario. In the absence of an international generally accepted definition of terrorism, the paper explores how the international community has responded to terrorism in international and ‘regional’ treaties, the United Nations system, and in customary law which has proof that diplomacy is a vital instrument in the global combat of terrorism. The conclusion of the paper explores the distinctive
prohibitions and crime of ‘terrorism’ in armed conflict under international humanitarian law.

Post-Colonial Nigerian State and Complexities of Irregular Cross-Border Migration

2024-01-17T11:54:44+00:00

The post-colonial Nigerian state has been confronted with internal socio-economic and political quagmires. Over the years, the globally accepted standards for sustainable human capital development seem to have eluded the Nigerian citizens, thereby creating situations of reoccurring social complexities. Irregular migrations across Nigerian borders have implicated trans-national illegalities especially within West African region, and African continent in general. Today, there is a consensus among scholars that human migration across borders of Nigeria has remained an issue of national concern with far-reaching consequences. The study aims at examining how cross-border human migration had been orchestrated by internal contradictions, hence leading to unprecedented increase in organized trans-border illegal and criminal activities in Nigeria and beyond. The study adopts documentary method and employs the push and pull theory of migration that explains the phenomenon within analytical framework of trajectories of post-colonial Nigeria and complexities of cross border migration of Nigerians. The study argues that many migrants who chose irregular migration routes seemed not to be aware of the challenges they would encounter, neither are they sure of job opportunities in their destination countries, but due to years of governance failure in Nigeria, Nigerian migrants consider leaving the country as a better alternative. The paper further argues that no matter all measures put in place by Nigeria government and other West African states to prevent irregular migration, the possibility of achieving that is far from reality. As long as the Nigerian state remains irresponsible and irresponsive to economic hardships of its citizens, there will always be outflow of Nigerians who are ever willing to ‘escape’ from the abysmally poor living standards in the country.

“The Other Side of Biafra” by Tony Amadi

2024-01-17T11:54:02+00:00