Nigeria's foreign policy goals in peacekeeping operations in Africa

• Main Authors: Safiyanu, Sani, Rogers, Roy Anthony, Wan Ahmad Amin Jaffri, Wan Sharina Ramlah
• Format: Article
• Published: IIUM Press 2020
• Subjects: JA Political science (General); JZ International relations
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/25195/; https://journals.iium.edu.my/intdiscourse/index.php/id/article/view/1573

In line with its foreign policy objectives, Nigeria, since its independence, has been participating in Peacekeeping Operations (PKOs) in Africa. It was in recognition of the country's commitment to the United Nations' (UN) objectives of maintaining peace and security that made it contribute troops to the UN Operation in the Congo (ONUC) for the first time in 1960. For more than fifty years, Nigeria has continued to make giant strides and commitment in this regard. This paper examines the benefits it derives from participating in PKOs in Africa under the UN, OAU (now AU) and the ECOMOG. Using both primary and secondary data, the paper argues that a normative anxiety was the primary motivating factor for Nigeria's involvement in PKOs in Africa. This is driven by the idiosyncrasies of the country's leaders since its independence in 1960. Nigeria's decision-makers are confident that its participation in PKOs serves a number of foreign policy goals and provides for the nation's interests. The effort promotes the country's prestige and influence in the comity of nations and in Intergovernmental Organisations (the UN, AU and ECOWAS). © 2020 International Islamic University Malaysia. All rights reserved.