Events: Africa

Strategies for Peace in the Niger Delta

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Map of Niger Delta. (Courtesy Univeristy of Texas Libraries)

Date
Monday, November 7, 2005
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Location
U.S. Institute of Peace
2nd Floor Conference Room
200 17th St, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Directions

The Niger Delta produces approximately 90 percent of Nigeria’s oil, but it remains one of Nigeria's least developed regions. Poverty, political disenfranchisement, and the easy availability of firearms have generated armed groups that fight each other, the state, and oil companies.

These groups demand political autonomy and a greater share of oil revenue for the region. The violence in the region has displaced, killed, and injured tens of thousands of civilians and, last year, increased the price of oil.

Dr. Judy Asuni, director of the Nigeria-based Academic Associates PeaceWorks, will discuss the newly formed Niger Delta Peace and Security Strategy, a civil society initiative that brings together representatives of the federal, state, and local government, oil and gas companies, security agencies, foreign donors, and members of civil society to address the fundamental issues of the region.

Speakers

• Judy Asuni, Academic Associates PeaceWorks, Nigeria
• David Smock, U.S. Institute of Peace, Moderator

Media Inquiries

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• Listen to the recording of this event. 1 hour 25 min, 16MB