This Week in Conflict – Nigeria and Kenya
Voice of America: A Nigerian security man sits under a campaign poster of Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan, with US President Barrack Obama, in Abuja, Nigeria
Rebecca Sargent’s weekly update of conflict around the world is a great resource to help stay abreast of conflict around the world and often features stories from countries we work in. In Nigeria, for example, voter registration has recently closed for the upcoming April elections with more than 70 million eligible voters. The Nigerian Army is preparing for elections by adopting proactive security measures to ensure a successful vote.
Evolving to new regional challenges, Search for Common Ground and its project partners are working to promote inclusive systems and engage Nigerian citizens. In the Plateau State, SFCG will be implementing a new program focusing on the alleviation of interreligious violence.
Other programs include support for the reintegration process of 3,000 former military combatants who have put down their arms and demobilized in the Niger Delta region. SFCG and its project partners are striving to deepen the impact of government sponsored training already received by the ex-militants, and prevent regression from the time period between their release from camp and the subsequent skills acquisition process. SFCG is assisting these former militants as they partake in community service activities to build vocational skills as well as trust in the communities. Former militants also receive non-violence training.
Daily Nation: Displaced families at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru
Kenya is also featured in Sargent’s update, where land conflicts continue to simmer in the Rift Valley, as plans to resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) has led to a standoff between the government and Maasai leaders who oppose the resettlement. The Rift Valley has been at the center of many ethnic conflicts in Kenya, as it was in the 2008 post-election violence in which 1,300 people were killed and 350,000 left homeless. The government planned to resettle 850 displaced families until indigenous Maasai leaders opposed the intended site. The resettlement attempt has left the government and the Maasai leaders at a standoff.
However, with politicians now eyeing the 2012 elections, IDPs fear their plight will soon be forgotten. “Our fear is that this thing is getting out of hand and the conflict may not be resolved soon. We do not want to move from one problem to a bigger one. Personally, I cannot stand seeing people fighting again. It is better we stay here,” said Esther Wanjiru, a mother of four.
Search for Common Ground developed The Team in Kenya as a response to the 2008 post-election violence. The television series follows the members of a soccer club as they overcome tribal, ethnic and socio-economic differences. The Team will begin its third season this year, educating and entertaining a mass audience through universal storylines and authentic characters created and portrayed by Kenyan writers and actors. Season one of The Team is available for viewing online here.
