13 197O BIAFRA a CHRONOLOGY of DEVELOPMENTS July 15, 1969-January 12, 1970
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C rMisc. publication % ) /' T~ ~! i~aT ~~ CT \T TO, U L C , r C r L~1 BIAFRA - ~ A CHRONOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENTS July 15, 1969-January 12, 1970 19'% CAROLYN K. COLWELL Analyst in International Relations Foreign Affairs Division January 28, 1970 13 197O BIAFRA A CHRONOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENTS July 15, 1969-January 12, 1970 Summarv The Nigerian/Biafran civil war came to a.sudden conclusion with the announcement of the Biaf ran surrender on January 12, 1970. Biafra's capitulation followed the Federal forces' recapture of Owerri and assault against Uli airfield. In the months preceding the Biafran surrender, several attempts had been made to bring both sides together for peace talks; agreement on the preconditions for negotiations remained a stumbling block. Massive food relief shipments had not resumed since the cessation of ICRC deliveries on June 5, 1969; Joint Church Aid and some other groups tried to continue relief flights but the amount of food reaching Biafra was drastically cut. On October 2 the Nigerian Red Cross officially took over the task of coordinating relief activities in Nigeria. The United States, meanwhile, continued its efforts to help relief forces find a plan for relief shipments which would be acceptable to both sides. A. Military In recent months the Nigerian forces appeared to have redirected their strategy toward the pursuit of a quick military victory. Signs of discontent among front line commanders and civilians anxious to end the war quickly may have prompted such a change. On January 3, 1970, a Federal spokesman announced that Nigerian forces had succeeded in dividing the remaining Biaf ran territory into three parts. This put Federal troops in a position to make a final assault on Uli airstrip. In the final months Biafran strategy appeared to be aimed at crippling the Nigerian oil industry by launching airstrikes against oil installations. Biafran air raids were conducted by the recently acquired "minicon" planes. The Biafran array, with an estimated LRS-2 40,000 men under arms, was vastly outnumbered by the Nigerian force of around 100,000 soldiers. Biafran troops were also reportedly poorly armed and in the final weeks lacking sufficient food supplies. - B. Political Settlement Numerous efforts were made to bring Biafran and Nigerian representatives together for peace talks. The Biafrans remained unwilling to meet with the Nigerians as long as the Federal Government maintained that the talks must take place with the context of a united Nigeria. On September 10, the OAU conference in Addis Ababa passed a resolution calling on both sides "...to suspend hostilities immediately and open negotiations with- out delay with a view to preserving the unity of Nigeria..." A final major effort to get talks started was made by Emperor Haile Selassie in December; the Biafrans, however, withdrew their delegation when they learned that the talks would be conducted within the context of the OAU resolution. The Biafran position was that under these conditions that outcome of the negotiations would be predetermined. -C. Relief Little change occurred in the disheartening relief situation. ICRC relief shipments remained suspended and negotiations continued to try to find a mutually acceptable basis for renewed ICRC flights. Reports in- dicated that by October only 280 tons of food was reaching Biafra nightly; the need was estimated at approximately 500 tons. Three million persons in Biafra were believed to be dependent on outside relief. On October 2 the Nigerian Red Cross officially replaced ICRC as the Nigerian relief coordinator; the Nigerian Government had formally relieved ICRC of this function on June 30. The Nigerian Red Cross soon made an appeal for additional funds and declared that it would have to cut back on relief operations since it could not fully finance transportation costs. BIAF'A A CHRONOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENTS July 15, 1969-January 12, 1970 1969 July 19: West Africa reported that UNICEF had announced that it would terminate its helicopter relief airlift from Calabar to other areas in the South Eastern State. The contract for these services was about to expire. (West Africa, July 19, 1969, p. 850.) July 31: At his Wednesday audience Pope Paul VI answered queries as to why he would not visit Nigeria during his coming African trip. He stated that: "...when we decided to undertake this unusual voyage the intention, the desire and the hope of being of help in some measure in the pacification of that conflict were in our heart and still are. We have multiplied our efforts, contacts and attempts on the practical plane to try to open any way to an honorable negotiation." However, "a visit by us to that tormented region proved to be impossible because of logistical difficulties and because of the political interpretations that it would arouse and which would render the situation still more grave, cutting off also that bit of hope that our impartial interest perhaps still can yield." (New York Times, July 31, 1969.) July 31: Secretary-General U Thant called upon the Nigerians and Biafrans to permit the ICRC to begin daytime relief flights. (Before ICRC flights stopped in June, all relief flights were at night to prevent interdiction by the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian air raids on the Biafran landstrip.) August 14: Reuters reported that a second Biafran airstrip had begun operations. Located at Uga, fifteen miles from Uli, the air- strip reportedly was kept in reserve for use in case the Uli strip was put out of operation by air raids. 1969 August 16: West Africa reported that Sierra Leone's House of Representatives had called upon the Government to use its good offices in the Nigerian conflict. In ad-}tion, eight MPs reportedly requested that the government recognize Biafra. (_st Africa, August 16, 1969, p. 945.) August 19: Biafra was reported to have accepted a compromise ICRC plan to begin daylight relief flights. Biafran acceptance of the plan, however, was conditional; Uli airstrip must be kept open to receive other flights in addition to the relief shipments. The ICRC plan called for international inspection of relief shipments with observers from either side flying with the cargo. Biaf ran's acceptance of the plan was a departure from its previous position of refusing to agree to any plan which included Nigerian inspection of the cargo. Nigeria did not accept the proposed compromise. August 19: Liberian President William Tubman and Nigerian leader General Gowoa concluded two days of private talks. The joint comhiunique issued by the two statesmen indicated that the Nigerian civil war had been among the issues discussed. August 22: Biaf ran Chief Justice Sir Louis Mbanefo dismissed reports of extensive French aid to Biafra as "Anglo-American propaganda." August 23: West Africa reported that two chartered DC-7's are now delivering arms to Biafra. The arms, primarily of South African origin, are supposedly being procured by the Biafrans on the black market. (West Africa, August 23, 1969, p. 1069.) August 26: Informed sources reported that the Nigerian air force had cut back on its harassment of relief flights. As a result, relief shipments have recently increased. Though ICRC flights have not resumed since June 5, Joint Church Aid and other groups have tried to continue their relief shipments. LRS-5 1969 August 26: Consequently, only about 130'tons of food is reaching Biafra (cont.) nightly; the need is estimated at 500-600 tons. The Biafran death rate has now reportedly reach 1,000 per day, a 50 percent increase since the cessation of the ICRC airlift. Joint Church Aid officials have also attributed the rising mortality rate to the weakness of the civilian population: "...After another year of semistarvation and malnutrition, the deterioration is now much more rapid than it was when the airlifts started one year ago." August 28: Former Nigerian President Nnamdi kzikiwe, a prominent Ibo, announced that he was withdrawing his support for Biafra's secession. Azikiwe expressed his desire to "help heal old wounds." (See following entries in earlier issues of this chronology: February 15, 1969 [F-358]; and November 16, 1967 [F-337]). The following day the Federal.Government welcomed the former President's support. In an official statement, the Govern- ment said that "it feels gratified that a man of Dr. Azikiwe's national and international stature and prestige has now become convinced that there is no plan to exterminate any section of the Nigerian community, that there is urgency in terminating the conflict and accelerating the pace of re- conciliation, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development." The Government reemphasized "...its determination to re- integrate and care for all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic origin or what may have been their roles in the present conflict." (New York Times, August 31, 1969.) August 30: Biafran military spokesmen reported that both Nigerian and Biafran forces were using gunboats on the Orashi River. The gunboats were being used as floating artillery platforms in operations aimed at controlling the banks of the river in this oil-rich area. LRS-6 1969 September 6: In his message of greetings to the OAU meeting in Addis Ababa, President Richard Nixon noted that "For the third year you meet in the shadow of tragic civil war in Nigeria. The past weeks again have brought an impasse in relief arrangements and still more suffering and death to innocent civilians, many of them women and children. The United States offers you as in the past, our fullest support in your steadfast efforts to bring the parties to the peace table. And we remain pledged to respond generously to humanitarian needs on both sides of the battleline. For we all recognize that the agony of Nigeria haunts the conscience of Africa's friends everywhere." (State Department Bulletin, September 29, 1969, p.