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NigeriaLast Updated December 2008 Not only is Nigeria an economically critical and influential country in Africa, but its diversity and struggle to integrate democracy in the face of adversity has been a model for other African countries for over half a century. It is Africa's most populous nation - home to nearly 132 million people or about one-sixth of the population of the African continent, as well as one of the most diverse countries therein. As such, Nigeria is a pivotal country, and its fate impacts that of the entire continent. The progress of democracy in Nigeria, its management of its internal divisions, its approach to HIV/AIDS, and its ability to achieve economic success, will have repercussions far beyond its own borders. Nigeria also represents an important African partner for the U.S., particularly, but not only, in economic terms. It is a major American trading partner in Africa and its fifth largest supplier of oil. Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999 after years of military government following the death of the junta leader, Sani Abacha in 1998. Despite this important transition, its democracy still remains fragile, and hopes of greater political and social stability and economic growth have been frustrated. An effort by some members of the National Assembly to amend the constitution to permit President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for a third term in 2007 was overturned, and on May 29, President Obasanjo stepped down from office and was replaced by his hand-picked successor from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. President Yar'Adua won a landslide victory of 70 % during the April 21 national election. Local, regional and international observers widely decried the elections as riddled with fraud and ballot manipulation, and 200 people died in violence surrounding the event. Regionally, Nigeria has played a leading role in diplomatic, military, and peacekeeping efforts on the African continent. Former President Obasanjo provided a forum (in Abuja) and mediation support for the negotiation of the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006, as well as troops for the African Union's peacekeeping mission in Darfur. In 2003, Nigeria helped negotiate former Liberian President Charles Taylor's step-down from power and sent in troops to help stabilize the country. In March of 2006, President Obasanjo authorized the extradition of Taylor and his transfer to the Special Court for Sierra Leone, which moved his trial for war crimes to The Hague to avoid destabilizing the region. President Yar'Adua continued this support for resolving the crisis in Darfur, pledging more troops to the United Nations-African Union (UN-AU) hybrid force to be deployed this fall. He was also the first African leader to condemn corruption in Zimbabwe and speak out openly against President Mugabe. This was the first step that would ultimately lead to SADC’s mediation of the Power Sharing Agreement in October 2008 in Zimbabwe. Nigeria has also played a pivotal role in the establishment and development of regional and pan-African institutions such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU). Internally, Nigeria continues to experience ethnic and religious violence. Much of this violence is rooted in a struggle to control oil in the Niger Delta, but there are other sources of conflict, too. Parts of the country remain particularly underdeveloped, and certain regions claim marginalization from wealth and power. The introduction of a particularly punitive interpretation of Sharia Islamic Law in 12 ethnically Hausa states has also heightened tensions and raised human rights concerns in the North. Nigeria faces a growing HIV/AIDS crisis. After South Africa and India, Nigeria is estimated to have the third most people living with HIV/AIDS in the world: low and high estimates put the number between 3 and 4 million, although the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is relatively low compared with some African countries. An estimated 55% of those living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria are women. Only 3% of those requiring antiretroviral drugs have access to such treatment, and there are almost 1 million AIDS orphans in Nigeria. AIDS continues to be the leading cause of death. Nigeria also struggles with economic crises that undermine support for the government. Despite its vast oil wealth, problems of corruption, a flourishing black market, and mismanagement have left Nigeria one of the poorest countries in the world: about 37% of the population lives in extreme poverty. The Niger River Delta, a significant oil-producing region, has long been the site of conflict, in part over the need to redirect more oil revenues for the benefit of local people. Continuing poverty, crime, corruption, and environmental degradation in the Delta region, along with the rise of a new, better-armed and organized militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), threaten Nigeria's social stability and economic development. A wave of kidnappings and violence in the region has cut Nigeria's oil revenues by 25 % in 2007. Aside from releasing oil militant leader Moujahid Dokubo-Asari, President Yar'Adua has taken few steps to follow through on his promise of achieving reconciliation and justice for the region. A long-term view of U.S.-Nigerian relations must confront fundamental issues of democracy, conflict resolution, resource use, the environment, and poverty. Nigeria's interests are in harnessing the country's wealth to contribute to development while building a stable democratic political system. U.S. long-term interests are the same. The U.S. should support fair, transparent and democratic election processes in future polls and provide financial and logistical assistance to independent election tribunals. In the Delta, the U.S. should encourage Nigerian government negotiations with the Niger Delta groups and push oil companies toward greater transparency about revenues and payments. If the U.S. wants to help promote stability and development in Nigeria, Washington must look beyond Nigeria's oil and consider its people and their environment. Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The country still faces significant challenges, especially with the recent plunge in oil prices and its effects on the non-diversified economy. But with international support, this African superpower can make steady progress toward securing democracy, and achieving stability and prosperity for its people.
LinksBBC - Chronology of Key Events - Nigeria Nigeria's Failed Elections -- International Crisis Group
Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Univ of Pennsylvania, African Studies Center - Nigeria Page Economist.com Country Briefing - Nigeria Latest news from AllAfrica.com Basic information on Nigeria (CIA World Factbook) U.S. & Nigeria: Thinking about Oil
Evaluating Democracy in Nigeria
Library of Congress - Country Study on Nigeria
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