Abuja Seminar Report 2004

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Abuja Seminar Report 2004 THE REGIONAL DIMENSION OF PEACE OPERATIONS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: Arrangements, Relationships, and the United Nations Responsibility for International Peace and Security Edited by AMOS G. ADEDEJI and ISTIFANUS S. ZABADI Published in 2004 by National War College, Abuja, Nigeria © National War College, Abuja, Nigeria Printed by Planet Press Limited 443 Badagry Expressway, Alakija - Lagos. ISBN: 978-2913-06-5 Copyright of this Report belongs to National War College, Nigeria. Written permission to reprint or republish in any form must be sought and obtained from the College. To order this Report, please write to: National War College P.M.B. 323, Garki Abuja, Nigeria Tel: +234 (0) 9 2347606 Email: [email protected] For further information about the Challenges Project, please contact the Project Coordinators at: Folke Bernadotte Academy 87264 Sandoverken Sweden Tel: +45 (0) 612 Email: [email protected] iii THE REGIONAL DIMENSION OF PEACE OPERATIONS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: Arrangements, Relationships, and the United Nations Responsibility for International Peace and Security Proceedings of the Abuja International Seminar of the Project on Challenges of Peace Operations: Into the 21st Century 31 May – 4 June 2004 Edited by AMOS G. ADEDEJI and ISTIFANUS S. ZABADI National War College Abuja, Nigeria iv v TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication ............................................................................... v Foreword ............................................................................... xi Acknowledgements .............................................................. xiii World Map showing Global Network of Challenges Partner Organisations ............................................................ xvi PART 1: FULL TEXT OF ADDRESSES AND PAPERS PRESENTED AT OPENING CEREMONY AND MAIN SESSIONS OPENING SESSION Welcome Address ................................................................... 1 Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso Opening Remarks .................................................................... 4 Ambassador Michael Sahlin The Challenges Project: Coordination and Update Report ........................................................................ 7 Annika Hilding-Norberg Keynote Address .................................................................... 13 Ambassador Olu Adeniji SECTION I: MAJOR ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE UN AND REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN PEACE OPERATIONS 19 Major Issues and Opportunities in the Interface Between the UN and Regional Organisations in Peace Operations: 21 Perspective from the United Nations ........................................ Mr. Souren Seraydarian Major Issues and Opportunities in the Interface Between the UN and Regional Organisations in Peace Operations: Perspective from the African Union ........................................ 31 Ambassador Sam Ibok Major Issues and Opportunities in the Interface Between the UN and Regional Organisations in Peace Operations: Perspective from the ECOWAS ............................................... Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas 37 SECTION II: 45 REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND THE CHALLENGES OF INITIATING AND SUSTAINING PEACE OPERATIONS Challenges of Collective Regional Security: The SADC Experience in Initiating and Sustaining Regional Peace Operations. ................... Col. Festus Aboagye (Rtd.) 47 International and Regional Cooperation within the UN Framework: Lessons Learned from UNMIL Interim Headquarters .................... 70 Brig. Sten Edholm Peace Keeping and Peace Building in the Pacific .......................... Gp Capt Garry Dunbar 78 SECTION III: STATE AND NON-STATE ACTORS IN REGIONAL 87 PEACE OPERATIONS Civil – Military Relationship in Complex Emergencies ................... Mr. Manuel Bessler 88 Consolidating Peace in Liberia: UNMIL, ECOWAS, State and Non-State Actors ............................................................................... 106 Mr. Souren Serayderian UN and OSCE: Cooperation and Coordination ............................ 118 Prof. Ali L. Karaosmanoglu and Ms Sebnem Udum Women and Regional Peace Operations .......................................... 132 Ms Yasmin Jusu–Sheriff SECTION IV: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR CAPACITY BUILDING FOR REGIONAL PEACE OPERATIONS International Support for Capacity Building for Regional Peace Operations: Perspective from Africa ............................................. 141 Ambassador Sam Ibok International Support for Capacity Building for Regional Peace Operations: A European Police Perspective .................................... 147 Mr. Lars Forste International Support for Capacity Building for Regional Peace Operations: Perspective on South America .................................. Dr. Erling Dessau 152 International Support for Capacity Building for Regional Peace Operations: Perspective from a Member State. .......................... 162 Lt. Gen. Martin L. Agwai The Creation of “Rule of Law” Tools for Use by Member States in Peace Operations ................................................................................ 178 Ms Vivienne O’Connor CONCLUDING SESSION: 185 COORDINATION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN ORGANISATIONS IN BUILDING CAPACITY FOR EFFECTIVE PEACE OPERATIONS Summary of Issues .............................................................................. 186 Ambassador Glyn Berry 197 Concluding Remarks I ........................................................................ Ambassador Michael Sahlin Concluding Remarks II ....................................................................... 200 Rear Admiral Amos G. Adedeji PART 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RAPPORTEURS’ REPORT 203 Executive Summary ......................................................................... 204 Rapporteurs’ Report ..................................................................... 208 PART 3: APPENDICES 235 Appendix A: List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ......................... 236 Appendix B: Seminar Programme .................................................. 241 Appendix C: Brief Profiles of Key Resource Persons .................. 247 Appendix D: List of Seminar Participants ...................................... 256 Appendix E: Organising Committee ............................................... 265 Appendix F: Members of Secretariat Committee .......................... 266 Appendix G: Contact Addresses of Partner Organisations .... 267 Appendix H: The Road to Abuja: Challenges Project Seminars from September 1997 to June 2004 ........... 270 Appendix I: About National War College, Nigeria ......... 272 ix FOREWORD Regional peace operations have been a growing feature of peace operations generally, since the 1990s. Such operations have been mounted by regional organizations in Africa and Europe, mostly by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau, and by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. Considering the prominent role which Nigeria played in pioneering this process in the West Africa sub-region and the military, political, diplomatic and humanitarian issues which she has had to deal with in initiating and sustaining these operations, it was a fitting honour for our country to host the 14th edition of the Challenges of Peace Operations Seminar and, thereby, formally join the multilateral network of partner countries that are involved in the Challenges Project. This book is a compilation of edited versions of the papers that were presented at the Abuja Seminar, which was held from 31st May to 4th June 2004. As the organizers of the Seminar had intended from the onset, this compilation covers a wide range of the issues that have been encountered repeatedly, not only in the management of regional peace operations in general, but particularly in the relationship between regional organizations and the United Nations in the conduct of such operations. I am delighted to note that this book is a further addition to the already considerable but yet growing body of literature that has been generated by the Challenges Project since its inception in 1997. We hope that the richness, depth, diversity and relevance of its contents will add both to academic discourse on peace operations and to practical knowledge towards achieving improvements in the field in the 21st century. We also hope that the issues that have been raised and addressed in this volume will enrich the Phase II Concluding Report of the Challenges Project which is due for publication in 2005. Furthermore, I am pleased to note that with this publication, the National War College, Nigeria, is continuing to honour its obligations as a strong Partner Organization of the Challenges Project and as the contact institution between the Nigerian peace operations community and other partner organizations worldwide. Our partners can be assured that we will always fulfill our obligations as a responsible member x country and that we shall apply the outcome of the Project scrupulously, towards enhancing our nation’s performance in the peace operations of the 21st century. Finally, I congratulate the many experts – diplomats, soldiers and scholars –who, from their various fields of endeavour, contributed to this important work. In pursuit of our goal of achieving greater success in peace operations, and more fundamentally in preventing the eruption of violent conflicts in the first place, I am sure that this book will prove a very valuable material for all those involved
Recommended publications
  • Le Nigeria Et La Suisse, Des Affaires D'indépendance
    STEVE PAGE Le Nigeria et la Suisse, des affaires d’indépendance Commerce, diplomatie et coopération 1930–1980 PETER LANG Analyser les rapports économiques et diplomatiques entre le Nigeria et la Suisse revient à se pencher sur des méca- nismes peu connus de la globalisation: ceux d’une relation Nord-Sud entre deux puissances moyennes et non colo- niales. Pays le plus peuplé d’Afrique, le Nigeria semblait en passe de devenir, à l’aube de son indépendance, une puissance économique continentale. La Suisse, comme d’autres pays, espérait profiter de ce vaste marché promis à une expansion rapide. Entreprises multinationales, diplo- mates et coopérants au développement sont au centre de cet ouvrage, qui s’interroge sur les motivations, les moyens mis en œuvre et les impacts des activités de chacun. S’y ajoutent des citoyens suisses de tous âges et de tous mi- lieux qui, bouleversés par les images télévisées d’enfants squelettiques durant la « Guerre du Biafra » en 1968, en- treprirent des collectes de fonds et firent pression sur leur gouvernement pour qu’il intervienne. Ce livre donne une profondeur éclairante aux relations Suisse – Nigeria, ré- cemment médiatisées sur leurs aspects migratoires, ou sur les pratiques opaques de négociants en pétrole établis en Suisse. STEVE PAGE a obtenu un doctorat en histoire contempo- raine de l’Université de Fribourg et fut chercheur invité à l’IFRA Nigeria et au King’s College London. Il poursuit des recherches sur la géopolitique du Nigeria. www.peterlang.com Le Nigeria et la Suisse, des affaires d’indépendance STEVE PAGE Le Nigeria et la Suisse, des affaires d’indépendance Commerce, diplomatie et coopération 1930–1980 PETER LANG Bern · Berlin · Bruxelles · Frankfurt am Main · New York · Oxford · Wien Information bibliographique publiée par «Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek» «Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek» répertorie cette publication dans la «Deutsche Nationalbibliografi e»; les données bibliographiques détaillées sont disponibles sur Internet sous ‹http://dnb.d-nb.de›.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethnic Militias in Nigeria and Their Impact on Democratic Consolidation
    Ethnic Militias in Nigeria and Their Impact on Democratic Consolidation by Ǿyvind Sandve Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Studies (e.g. Arts) at Stellenbosch University Faculty of Arts Supervisor: Prof Pierre du Toit March 2009 Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the owner of the copyright thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated) and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Date: February 2009 Copyright © 2009 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved 2 Table of contents Title page ..............................................................................................................................1 Declaration........................................................................................................................2 Table of contents .............................................................................................................3 Abstract .............................................................................................................................6 Opsomming ......................................................................................................................8 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................... 10 Abbreviations .................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Nigeria: the Challenge of Military Reform
    Nigeria: The Challenge of Military Reform Africa Report N°237 | 6 June 2016 International Crisis Group Headquarters Avenue Louise 149 1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 502 90 38 Fax: +32 2 502 50 38 [email protected] Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... i Recommendations..................................................................................................................... iii I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 II. The Long Decline .............................................................................................................. 3 A. The Legacy of Military Rule ....................................................................................... 3 B. The Military under Democracy: Failed Promises of Reform .................................... 4 1. The Obasanjo years .............................................................................................. 4 2. The Yar’Adua and Jonathan years ....................................................................... 7 3. The military’s self-driven attempts at reform ...................................................... 8 III. Dimensions of Distress ..................................................................................................... 9 A. The Problems of Leadership and Civilian Oversight ................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Treaty of Pelindaba on the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone
    UNIDIR/2002/16 The Treaty of Pelindaba on the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Oluyemi Adeniji UNIDIR United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Geneva, Switzerland NOTE The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. * * * The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Secretariat. UNIDIR/2002/16 Copyright © United Nations, 2002 All rights reserved UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No. GV.E.03.0.5 ISBN 92-9045-145-9 CONTENTS Page Acknowledgements . vii Foreword by John Simpson . ix Glossary of Terms. xi Introduction. 1 Chapter 1 Evolution of Global and Regional Non-Proliferation . 11 Chapter 2 Nuclear Energy in Africa . 25 Chapter 3 The African Politico-Military Origins of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone . 35 Chapter 4 The Transition Period: The End of Apartheid and the Preparations for Negotiations . 47 Chapter 5 Negotiating and Drafting the Treaty (Part I): The Harare Meeting . 63 Chapter 6 Negotiating and Drafting the Treaty (Part II): The 1994 Windhoek and Addis Ababa Drafting Meetings, and References where Appropriate to the 1995 Johannesburg Joint Meeting . 71 Chapter 7 Negotiating and Drafting the Treaty (Part III): Annexes and Protocols . 107 Chapter 8 Negotiating and Drafting the Treaty (Part IV): Joint Meeting of the United Nations/OAU Group of Experts and the OAU Inter- Governmental Group, Johannesburg.
    [Show full text]
  • Nigeria Nigeria at a Glance: 2005-06
    Country Report Nigeria Nigeria at a glance: 2005-06 OVERVIEW The president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and his team face a daunting task in their efforts to push through long-term, sustainable economic reforms in the coming two years. However, the recent crackdown on high-level corruption seems to point to the president!s determination to use his final years in power to shake up Nigeria!s political system and this should help the reform process. Given the background of ethnic and religious divisions, widespread poverty, and powerful groups with vested interests in maintaining the current status quo, there is a risk that the reform drive, if not properly managed, could destabilise the country. Strong growth in the oil and agricultural sectors will ensure that real GDP growth remains reasonably high, at about 4%, in 2005 and 2006, but the real challenge will be improving performance in the non-oil sector, which will be a crucial part of any real attempt to reduce poverty in the country. Key changes from last month Political outlook • There have been no major changes to the Economist Intelligence Unit!s political outlook. Economic policy outlook • There have been no major changes to our economic policy outlook. Economic forecast • New external debt data for 2003 show that the proportion of Nigeria!s debt denominated in euros was much higher than previously estimated. Owing to the weakness of the US dollar against the euro since 2003, this has pushed up Nigeria!s debt stock substantially, to US$35bn at the end of 2003. Despite limited new lending, mainly from multilateral lenders, we estimate that further currency revaluations and the addition of interest arrears to the short-term debt stock will push total external debt up to US$39.5bn by the end of 2006.
    [Show full text]
  • Central African Republic – Uncertain Prospects
    UNHCR Emergency and Security Service WRITENET Paper No. 14 / 2001 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – UNCERTAIN PROSPECTS By Paul Melly Independent Researcher, UK Revised May 2002 WriteNet is a Network of Researchers and Writers on Human Rights, Forced Migration, Ethnic and Political Conflict WriteNet is a Subsidiary of Practical Management (UK) E-mail: [email protected] THIS PAPER WAS PREPARED MAINLY ON THE BASIS OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION, ANALYSIS AND COMMENT. ALL SOURCES ARE CITED. THE PAPER IS NOT, AND DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE, EITHER EXHAUSTIVE WITH REGARD TO CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY SURVEYED, OR CONCLUSIVE AS TO THE MERITS OF ANY PARTICULAR CLAIM TO REFUGEE STATUS OR ASYLUM. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE PAPER ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WRITENET OR UNHCR. ISSN 1020-8429 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction.....................................................................................1 2 Historical and Cultural Background............................................1 3 The Patassé Government and Military Instability......................4 3.1 The Patassé Administration: Political and Economic Tensions ..............4 3.2 The 1996-1997 Mutiny Crisis and Its Consequences................................5 4 The Crisis of 2001 ...........................................................................8 4.1 Failed Coup of May and Aftermath...........................................................8 4.2 The Aftermath and Consequences ...........................................................14 5 Factors Shaping
    [Show full text]
  • International Organizations
    INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY (E.S.A.) Headquarters: 8–10 Rue Mario Nikis, 75738 Paris, CEDEX 15, France phone 011–33–1–5369–7654, fax 011–33–1–5369–7651 Chairman of the Council.—Alain Bensoussan (France). Director General.—Antonio Rodota (Italy). Member Countries: Austria Germany Portugal Belgium Ireland Spain Denmark Italy Sweden Finland Netherlands Switzerland France Norway United Kingdom Cooperative Agreement.—Canada. European Space Operations Center (E.S.O.C.), Robert Bosch-Strasse 5, 61, Darmstadt, Germany, phone 011–49–6151–900, telex: 419453, fax 011–49–6151–90495. European Space Research and Technology Center (E.S.T.E.C.), Keplerlaan 1, 2201, AZ Noordwijk, Zh, Netherlands, phone 011–31–71–565–6565; Telex: 844–39098, fax 011–31–71–565–6040. Information Retrieval Service (E.S.R.I.N.), Via Galileo Galilei, Casella Postale 64, 00044 Frascati, Italy. Phone, 011–39–6–94–18–01; Telex: 610637, fax 011–39–94–180361. Washington Office (E.S.A.), Suite 7800, 955 L’Enfant Plaza SW. 20024. Head of Office.—I.W. Pryke, 488–4158, fax: (202) 488–4930, [email protected]. INTER-AMERICAN DEFENSE BOARD 2600 16th Street 20441, phone 939–6041, fax 939–6620 Chairman.—MG Carl H. Freeman, U.S. Army. Vice Chairman.—Brigadier General Jose´ Mayo, Air Force, Paraguay. Secretary.—Col. Robert P. Warrick, U.S. Air Force. Vice Secretary.—CDR Carlos Luis Rivera Cordova, Navy. Deputy Secretary for Administration.—LTC Frederick J. Holland, U.S. Army. Conference.—Maj. Robert L. Larson, U.S. Army. Finance.—Maj. Stephen D. Zacharczyk, U.S. Army. Information Management.—Maj.
    [Show full text]
  • The Human Cost of Nuclear Weapons
    The human cost Autumn 2015 97 Number 899 Volume of nuclear weapons Volume 97 Number 899 Autumn 2015 Volume 97 Number 899 Autumn 2015 Editorial: A price too high: Rethinking nuclear weapons in light of their human cost Vincent Bernard, Editor-in-Chief After the atomic bomb: Hibakusha tell their stories Masao Tomonaga, Sadao Yamamoto and Yoshiro Yamawaki The view from under the mushroom cloud: The Chugoku Shimbun newspaper and the Hiroshima Peace Media Center Tomomitsu Miyazaki Photo gallery: Ground zero Nagasaki Akitoshi Nakamura Discussion: Seventy years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Reflections on the consequences of nuclear detonation Tadateru Konoé and Peter Maurer Nuclear arsenals: Current developments, trends and capabilities Hans M. Kristensen and Matthew G. McKinzie Pursuing “effective measures” relating to nuclear disarmament: Ways of making a legal obligation a reality Treasa Dunworth The human costs and legal consequences of nuclear weapons under international humanitarian law Louis Maresca and Eleanor Mitchell Chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear events: The humanitarian response framework of the International Committee of the Red Cross Gregor Malich, Robin Coupland, Steve Donnelly and Johnny Nehme Humanitarian debate: Law, policy, action The use of nuclear weapons and human rights The human cost of nuclear weapons Stuart Casey-Maslen The development of the international initiative on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and its effect on the nuclear weapons debate Alexander Kmentt Changing the discourse on nuclear weapons: The humanitarian initiative Elizabeth Minor Protecting humanity from the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons: Reframing the debate towards the humanitarian impact Richard Slade, Robert Tickner and Phoebe Wynn-Pope An African contribution to the nuclear weapons debate Sarah J.
    [Show full text]
  • Political and Security Affairs
    Part 1 Political and Security Affairs Regional Issues South Asia Afghanistan The United Nations, with the strong support of the United States, played a critical role in Afghanistan in 2001, particularly after the fall of the Taliban regime. The United Nations was instrumental in helping estab- lish an interim government and it authorized an international security force to stabilize the situation in Kabul. Before September 11, the United Nations focused on the Taliban’ s role in providing a haven for terrorists, the ongoing Afghan civil war, the human rights situation in Afghanistan, including the treatment of women, and the humanitarian crisis in the country. In January 2001, UN Security Council sanctions imposed on the Taliban and al–Qaida by Resolution 1333 (2000) went into effect. Resolution 1333 repeated the demand made in Resolution 1267 (1999) that the Taliban turn overUsama bin Laden and added a demand that the Taliban close down terrorist training camps. Sanctions under the resolution included an arms embargo against the Tali- ban, a freeze on bin Laden’ s assets, the closure of Taliban and Ariana Air- lines offices overseas, a ban on non–humanitarian flights to and from Taliban–controlled areas, restrictions on Taliban officials’ travel and a ban on the export to Taliban–controlled areas of a precursor chemical used to manufacture heroin. In June 2001, the experts panel appointed under Resolution 1333 (2000) recommended the establishment of a monitoring mechanism to oversee sanctions implementation. In July 2001, the Security Council endorsed the panel’ s recommendations in Resolution 1363, requiring the Secretary–General to set up a mechanism that would collect information on sanctions enforcement and offer assistance to states to carry out their responsibilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Africa Report
    PROJECT ON BUSINESS AND POLITICS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD AFRICA REPORT Third Quarterly Report on Africa July to September 2008 Volume: 1 Reports for the month of July 2008 Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Ijaz Shafi Gilani Contributors Abbas S Lamptey Snr Research Associate Reports on Sub-Saharan AFrica Abdirisak Ismail Research Assistant Reports on East Africa INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD BUSINESS AND POLITICS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD AFRICA REPORT Third Quarterly Report on Asia July to September 2008 Volume: 1 Reports for the month of July 2008 Department of Politics and International Relations International Islamic University Islamabad 2 BUSINESS AND POLITICS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD AFRICA REPORT Third Quarterly Report on Africa 2008 Table of contents Reports for the month of July Week-1 July 08, 2008 05 Week-2 July 15, 2008 95 Week-3 July 22, 2008 241 Week-4 July 29, 2008 366 Country profiles Sources 3 4 BUSINESS AND POLITICS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD Weekly Presentation: July 8, 2008 Sub-Saharan Africa Abbas S Lamptey Period: June 29 to July 5, 2008 THE HEADLINES 1. CHINA -AFRICA RELATIONS WEST AFRICA • Nigeria: Phase3 Telecom Partners Chinese Firm for Additional Rollout: Daily Trust (Abuja): 30 June 2008. SOUTHERN AFRICA • South Africa: Reality Check: Business Day (Johannesburg): EDITORIAL: 4 July 2008. • Angola: Govt And China Sign Financial Accord: Angola Press Agency (Luanda): 4 July 2008. • Angola: Chinese Communist Party Hails Political Stability, Economic Growth: Angola Press Agency (Luanda): 3 July 2008. • Angola: President Eduardo Dos Santos Analyses Cooperation With China: Angola Press Agency (Luanda): 3 July 2008. • Namibia: Major Chinese Building Firms 'Not AA Compliant’: The Namibian (Windhoek): 1 July 2008.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Regional and Sub-Regional Organizations in Implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540: a Preliminary Assessment of the African Continent
    The role of regional and sub-regional organizations in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540: a preliminary assessment of the African continent Prepared by Johan Bergenas with guidance and commentary by Dr. Lawrence Scheinman for the UNIDIR-MIIS cooperative project on regional organizations and 1540. A significant number of states face challenges fulfilling obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004)—a nonproliferation resolution aiming to prevent non- state actors from manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, developing, transporting, transferring or using weapons of mass destruction and the means of their delivery.1 Many countries lack the capacity to, inter alia, comply with basic reporting duties as required by the resolution. In light of current 1540 implementation obstacles, this initial report, part of a larger study,∗ discusses the framework of African regional and sub- regional organizations and the role they can play implementing resolution 1540. Introduction In an effort to adapt to new weapons of mass destruction (WMD) challenges in the 21st century—such as the January 2004 unveiling of A.Q. Khan’s clandestine nuclear weapons technology proliferation network and the threat that terrorists might acquire and use WMD—the UN Security Council, in April 2004, unanimously adopted resolution 1540 (hereafter referred to as 1540).2 The broader context of this measure is the nonproliferation and disarmament regime, anchored by multilateral agreements such as the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Convention on the ∗ Under the direction of Dr. Lawrence Scheinman, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Monterey Institute of International Studies Center for Nonproliferation Studies (MIIS) are conducting a joint research project on the role of regional organizations in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540.
    [Show full text]
  • Nigeria Nigeria at a Glance: 2005-06
    Country Report Nigeria Nigeria at a glance: 2005-06 OVERVIEW The president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and his administration face the tough task of unifying a nation divided by years of incessant ethnic-religious conflicts, rampant corruption, unrelenting poverty and political disenchantment. However, the administration has a 12-month window of opportunity to push through far-reaching reforms before campaigning for the 2007 elections paralyses the National Assembly. The success of the reform programme will depend on the president!s ability to garner political support for reforms which threaten powerful groups with vested interests in maintaining the current status quo. Meanwhile, the macroeconomic outlook for Nigeria will remain broadly positive. Thanks to rising oil production and a reasonably high oil price throughout the forecast period, the Economist Intelligence Unit is forecasting real GDP growth of around 4%. However, owing to the high price of oil, especially in 2005, high levels of government spending and relatively loose monetary policy, we expect inflation to remain in double digits throughout the outlook period. Key changes from last month Political outlook • There has been no major change to our political outlook. Economic policy outlook • The Central Bank of Nigeria has made a number of important revisions to its monetary policy. It will now actively intervene in the market to limit fluctuations in the exchange rate within a 3% band, although it has still to announce the central rate at which the band will be set. It has also announced that it will consider changes to its key minimum discount rate on a quarterly basis, in the light of trends in seasonally adjusted inflation, having left it unchanged since August 2003.
    [Show full text]