The Return of the Chibok Girls and US Involvement on the African Continent
by Margaret Nencheck / WiSe Fellow
Approximately three years ago, the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from a secondary school in Chibok. Despite an outpouring of support from around the world, 113 of those girls are still missing.
The case of the Chibok girls is not only important because of the emotion associated with the abduction of innocent teens. It is a component of the global fight against terrorism, militancy, and destabilization in the region. It also plays an interesting role in the United States’ involvement in African security issues.
Nigeria and Boko Haram
Nigeria is the largest economy as well as the most populous country in Africa, with a petroleum-based economy estimated at approximately 510 billion USD and a population of more than 180 million. Despite gains in consolidation of its fledgling democracy, Nigeria faces considerable challenges because of ethnic and religious tensions, terrorist attacks, and government corruption.
One of the most significant threats to Nigerian security comes from Boko Haram. In 2013, the U.S. State Department designated Boko Haram — a militant group with ties to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb — a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The group has been attacking the Nigerian government as well as international targets and civilians for years. Some of the more violent events include a suicide bombing of the United Nations building in the Nigerian capital of Abuja in August 2011 that killed 21 people and an attack in Benisheikh in September 2013 which caused more than 160 civilian casualties, including women and children.
U.S. Involvement
The Nigerian government has been actively contributing to a multi-national force established to fight Boko Haram, not only in Nigeria but throughout the African region in which the terrorist group operates. This West African force also receives support from the United States. This week, it was announced that the White House is moving forward with the sale of high-tech aircraft to the Nigerian armed forces. The plan, originally proposed under President Barack Obama, would authorize the sale of 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft with sophisticated targeting gear for nearly 600 million USD. Nigeria has been trying to purchase the aircraft since 2015 but in the waning days of the Obama administration, the plan stalled. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to approve the sale of the aircraft, which must pass through Congress before the transaction is finalized.
Will it help?
The current administration has indicated its strong support for the sale, which would likely improve the U.S. relationship with Africa’s largest economy. It would also further the policy objective of fighting militancy and provide a boost to U.S. manufacturing. However, there are lingering concerns over the Nigerian government’s human rights record and whether those issues should continue to prevent the sale of this precision airframe.
Amnesty International has reported that the Nigerian security forces have committed major human rights violations, including extra-judicial executions; the military and police allegedly commit torture; the central government and corporate entities lack accountability. In January 2017, the Nigerian Air Force accidentally bombed a refugee camp on the Cameroon border, killing more than 100 displaced civilians and injuring dozens of aid workers. Despite these concerns, the United States seems poised to complete the transaction. The Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Corker, has said: “We need to deal with human rights issues, but not on weapons sales.”
There are arguments to be made in support of or in opposition to the sale of the Super-Ts to Nigeria and it remains to be seen whether or not this advanced technology would help the Nigerians and the multi-national task force in their efforts to combat Boko Haram. But, just days after the three-year anniversary of the Chibok girls’ abduction, the lack of progress in bringing them home is noticeable.
Nigeria’s Defense Minister, General Manir Dan Ali has warned it may take years to find all the kidnapped girls. In speaking to Voice of America, General Ali said, “it took the U.S. up to seven, eight, 10 years before they could get to [Al Qaeda leader and 9/11 mastermind Osama] bin Laden.” While some of the girls have been released, it is a small number considering the efforts levied against the search. Despite some success in driving back Boko Haram, the failure to find the Chibok girls may overshadow any military success. And under a cloud of human rights abuses, a growing refugee crisis, and continued violence, 12 fighter jets still might not help #bringbackourgirls.
