ConflictBarometer_2016

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
tias, especially the NDA, perpetrated over 1,400 attacks and
acts of sabotage against pipelines belonging to international
companies, causing significant damage to the oil production
in the Niger Delta region. They also attacked civilians
and clashed with military forces in the southern states Delta,
Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, Ogun, and Imo.
Between February and July, NDA attacked a large number of
oil and gas pipelines. At least ten people were killed and
many facilities shut down. In response, security forces executed
several missions in the region to stop the activities of
NDA and other Niger Delta militias. This caused residents to
flee and prevented the remaining inhabitants from access to
food. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC criticized the excessive use
offorce by security personnel. On July 27, government forces
launched air strikes, partially destroying a base of militants
in Fatola, Ogun state, and killing several fighters. Following
the assassination offour soldiers by unidentified gunmen
one week earlier, government forces attacked an NDA camp
on August 13, resulting in the death of two militants. On August
26, government forces launched an offensive against
militants in Rivers State, killing five, arresting 23 and recovering
large amounts of weaponry and ammuniation. Four days
later, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Movement (NDGJM
attacked agovernmental pipeline in Ogor-Oteri, Delta state,
as a reaction to the operation. On August 20, NDA signaled
readiness for aceasefire and negotiations with the government.
Throughout the year, the IYC repeatedly criticized operations
by government forces, claiming that particularly Ijaw
communities were affected by the operations.
The NDA also supported the pro-secession Biafra movement,
which comprised the Niger Delta among others [→ Nigeria
(MASSOB /Biafra]. On June 27, NDA called for a referendum
on the status of the Niger Delta as a region, demanding
greater self-determination and ahigher share of revenues
from the oil production. Although claiming to support Biafran
and Ijaw causes, the Movement for the Emancipation of the
Niger Delta (MEND, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB,
as well as the IYC criticized and disavowed the NDA. Some
militant groups like the Red Egbesu Water Lions, who were
mainly comprised of Ijaw, and the Isoko Liberation Movement
stated their support for the NDA. Moreover, throughout the
year, further smaller militant groups emerged in the region,
claiming more autonomy for the Niger Delta and the reallocation
of oil revenues to the southern part of the country. hsp
NIGERIA (NORTHERNERS–SOUTHERNERS)
Intensity: 4 | Change: | Start: 1960
Conflict parties: northerners, APC supporters vs.
southerners, PDP supporters
Conflict items: system/ideology, national power
The conflict over national power and the orientation of the
political system between supporters of the two main political
parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's
Democratic Party (PDP), escalated to a limited war. While the
APC's strongholds were mostly in the northern states, most
PDP supporters were based in the southern states. After tensions
had intensified around the 2015 presidential elections,
several elections on the gubernatorial and local level were accompanied
by violence in 2016. Moreover, both sides raised
concerns about harassment, intimidation at polling units as
well as electoral fraud after several elections. Throughout the
year, at least 124 people were killed.
In the run-up to gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa state,
clashes between supporters of the APC and the PDP at the residence
of the governor in Ekeremor Local Government Area
(LGA) injured six on January 8. Violence continued around
the re-run of gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa the following
day. 17 people were killed in clashes and shootings occurred
in several communities, leading to more than 600 IDPs. On
February 16, clashes between supporters of the PDP and the
APC resulted in the death of three in Ugboju, Benue state.
Supporters of both parties caused sporadic violence around
Rivers state prior to the legislative re-run elections in March.
On February 22, the state liaison office of a senatorial candidate
was destroyed in Khana LGA, Rivers. The same day,
an APC party chief and two family members were killed in
Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA, Rivers. On March 6, alleged PDP
gunmen killed four APC members in Obibi, Etche LGA. The
same day, four PDP members were killed by gunmen in Akuku
Toru LGA, Rivers. In two separate incidents, members of the
PDP-affiliated youth gang Icelander Cult Boys respectively
killed one APC member in Opobo, Opobo-Nkoro LGA and an
APC party chiefin Asari-Toru, Asari-Toru LGA, Rivers, on March
7. On March 9, one man was shot dead in an alleged reprisal
attack for the killing of the APC chief. Three days later, another
APC chief was killed by gunmen in Yeghe, Khana LGA.
On March 13, at least 42 deaths resulted from gun battles,
infrastructure damage, and assassinations of supporters from
both parties around the Rivers re-run election. According to
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the
election in Rivers was disturbed by kidnappings and killings
of INEC officials. Due to the high number offatalities and
kidnappings, as well as electoral fraud, the INEC annulled
electoral results in eight LGAs. On March 20, an aide to a
Rivers State Chief of Staff was killed by suspected members
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