Nigeria Extends Amnesty to MEND Rebel Leader Amid Increasing Violence

MEND rebel leader Henry Okah. (image: AFP via google.com)

Nigeria is Africa’s biggest oil producer and the world’s eighth-largest, but a years-long struggle between rebels in the Niger Delta and the Nigerian government has seriously hampered oil production.  As reported earlier this month on The HEAT Zone, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, better known as MEND, has launched repeated attacks on Nigeria’s oil infrastructure in recent weeks. To many, MEND is a group of freedom fighters doing battle against a government ranked among the most corrupt in the world that exploits the region. But to others, MEND is a terrorist group that seeks sole control of the region’s oil in its own quest for power.
Since 2006, overall production in the country has been reduced by 20 percent due to the violence, which has roiled the world’s oil markets. Some have estimated that MEND’s attacks have caused a crude output reduction of 900,000 barrels a day.

In order to quell the violence, Nigerian authorities are attempting a new strategy: offering MENDs rebels, including its leader, Henry Okah, amnesty, the AFP press agency reported yesterday.  By doing so, Nigerian authorities hope to reach a truce with MEND and bring the conflict to the negotiating table. Okah has been imprisoned for over 18 months by Nigeria’s government on charges of gun smuggling and treason against the state.

Amnesty is scheduled to start on August 6 and will be extended to everyone connected with the fighting. However, it does not appear that MEND is interested in accepting the deal. On Monday, MEND blew up pipelines owned by Royal Dutch Shell. In addition, various groups of bandits have attacked Royal Dutch Shell’s facilities this week.

Royal Dutch Shell faces other problems in the region. Earlier this week, Amnesty International released a report that stated Royal Dutch Shell had caused a “human rights tragedy” in the region. Much of Amnesty International’s complaints revolve around the environmental damage it attributes to Shell’s operations.

Royal Dutch Shell scoffed at the report, saying that much of the environmental issues in the Niger Delta come from the attacks on its facilities, which prevent its employees from performing routine maintenance that could reduce environmental harm.

With its leader released by the government, it’s a good bet that MEND actions will change in the coming days and weeks.  Whether those changes constitute reduced violence and negotiation with the government or more aggressive attacks remains to be seen.  One thing is for certain: MEND has shown it has the power to manipulate world crude oil (and, by extension, heating oil) prices, and will it not give up that power without some major compensation.