The potency of secret diplomacy

In contemporary times, state actors have relied on secret diplomacy/negotiations in a bid to resolve or prevent conflicts,[1] however, the same import is not given to negotiating with non-state actors, as governments are buying into the often cited mantra of ‘we do not negotiate with terrorist’ adopted by western countries, and which has also become a common dictum in Nigerian political discourses. However, with the increasing insecurity and instability created by non-state actors in West Africa, the Islamic Maghreb and the world at large, leaders are resorting to negotiating with non-state actors including ‘terrorists’ in a bid to bring an end to violent conflicts and insecurity in their respective countries, the most recent case that comes to mind being the secret negotiations between the United States government and Taliban, which led to prisoners and hostage swap. [2]

Following the kidnap of over 200 students by the Islamist sect or insurgency group Boko Haram, and the ensuing international outcry - including an internet campaign that attracted big celebrities including the wife of the President of the United State of America, Michelle Obama [3] - the Nigerian government was under pressure to not only work towards the release of the abducted girls, but to also do all they could to bring the violent regime of Boko Haram to an end. Unfortunately, despite military campaigns, and joint search and rescue efforts by both the Nigerian government and the international community (especially the United States, United Kingdom and China), the whereabouts of the girls remain unknown. [4]

Given this impasse, there were increasing calls for the government to seek alternative means in order to accelerate efforts to bring back the missing girls home safely to their parents.[5] Especially since there has been growing concern about their safety, including suggestions that they might have been married out, sexually abused, forcefully converted to Islam and in extreme cases used as fighters or suicide bombers.[6] It follows that the Nigerian government eventually decided to negotiate with Boko Haram, albeit secretly. It is noteworthy that given the clandestine nature of secret diplomacy/negotiations, it is difficult to ascertain whether it is always effective. It follows that despite the ongoing negotiation between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram, the sect have continued in their violent campaign against the Nigeria state, the recent one being the bombing of a school in Yobe on 10 November 2014.[7]

Since dialogues can yield results when the two or more contending parties have something to give, while recognizing that it is impossible to meet the core demand of Boko Haram which is the Islamization of Nigeria[8] (Adenrele 2012: 21), and also despite the fact that the current negotiations are shielded in uncertainties, the Nigerian government is right to engage with Boko Haram in secret negotiations. This view is reinforced by the Chadian government who mediated in the cease-fire, by intimating that although the terms of the negotiations which included the release of the girls and cease fire for a probable prison swap, might have been broken by some faction of the Islamic sect. But, the negotiation remains open and with the probable outcome being the release of the girls.[9]

In conclusion, although some people continue to argue about the morality of engaging with terrorists in any sort of negotiation, it is important to recognize that without engaging with Boko Haram, their influence would continue to grow. And also disparate to the belief that any engagement with terrorists undermines a state’s integrity, the Nigerian government’s decision to secretly negotiate with Boko Haram could boast its ability to protect its citizens, especially when it matters most. In addition, this is in no way suggesting that the use of military force in the fight against terrorism/insurgency is not relevant, but given the current situation with over 200 girls still missing, engaging with Boko Haram militarily puts the state at a disadvantage, since they do not seem to have any rules of engagement.

As stated earlier, despite the misgivings people might have about negotiating with terrorists, albeit secretly, it has been used in the past and led to positive outcome. Therefore, [this writer"> reiterates that the Nigerian government made the right decision to engage with Boko Haram in secret negotiations, since other means to halt their violent campaigns as well as secure the release of the girls have proved abortive.

* Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood is a PhD candidate at the African Leadership Centre, International Development Institute, Kings College London. She was a Masters of Associate of the African Leadership Centre, Kings College London and a Visiting Scholar at the University of Nairobi from October 2013 to February 2014. Her most recent degree is an M.A. in Conflict, Security and Development from Kings College, London. Okafor-Yarwood also has a B.A. in International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies from London Metropolitan University. An earlier version of this paper is available on http://strifeblog.org/2014/05/23/secret-diplomacy-should-we-engage-with-boko-haram/

END NOTES

[1] Chandran, D.S. (2011). ‘Armed Conflict in FATA and NWFP: Continuing Violence’. In Chandran, D.S. & Chari, P.R. (eds.) Armed Conflicts in South Asia, 2010: Growing Left-wing Extremism and Religious Violence. India: Routledge, 44-66.
[2] Saunders, D. (2013). “Canada doesn’t negotiate with Terrorists. Until it does”. 1st June, The Global and Mail. Available: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/canada-doesnt-negotiate-with-terrorists-until-it-does/article12293766/; Gomez, A. (2014). “Is it ever right to negotiate with Terrorists?” 2nd June, USA Today. Available: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/06/01/bergdahl-release-taliban-prisoner-trade/9835759/ Accessed: 29th October 2014.
[3] See: Abubakar, A. (2014). “As many as 200 Girls Abducted by Boko Haram, Nigeria Officials Say”. 16th April, 2014, CNN. Available: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/15/world/africa/nigeria-girls-abducted/; Sim, D. (2014). “Bring back our girls: Michelle Obama and Celebrities join Twitter Campaign against Boko Haram”. 8th May, International Business Times. Available: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bring-back-our-girls-michelle-obama-celebrities-join-twitter-campaign-against-boko-haram-1447692 Accessed: 29th October 2014.
[4] Okolosie, L. (2014). “Nigerians Seethe at the Government’s Failure to rescue abducted School girls”. 22nd July, The Guardian. Available: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/22/nigerians-goodluck-jonathan-boko-haram; Dada, D. (2014). “Long wait for Chibok girls – Nigerians react”. 30th July, Daily News Watch. Available: http://www.mydailynewswatchng.com/long-wait-chibok-girls-nigerians-react/ Accessed: 28th October 2014.
[5] Nwabughiogu, L. (2014). “Government should negotiate with Boko Haram – Mike Ozekhome”.. 2nd June, Vanguard. Available: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/06/government-negotiate-boko-haram-chief-mike-ozekhome/; Okafor-Yarwood, I. (2014). “’Secret Diplomacy’. Should we engage with Boko Haram”. 23rd May, Strife. Available: http://strifeblog.org/2014/05/23/secret-diplomacy-should-we-engage-with-boko-haram/ Accessed: 28th October 2014.
[6] Soniyi, T. (2014). “Nigeria: How Boko Haram Raped, Tortured and forcefully Islamized Abducted Girls”. 27th October, This Day. Available: http://allafrica.com/stories/201410280166.html Accessed: 28th October 2014.
[7] Monica, M. (2014). “Nigeria says return of Kidnapped girls close despite Shaky State of Truce”, 19th of October, The Guardian. Available: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/19/boko-haram-kidnapped-girls-nigeria-shaky-turce; The Guardian, (2014). “Nigeria school blast kills dozens”. Available: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/10/nigeria-school-bomb-blast Accessed: 10th October 2014.
[8] Adenrele, A.R. (2012). ‘Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria as a Symptom of Poverty and Political Alienation’. Journal of Humanities and Social Science: Vol. 3 (5), 21-26.
[9] Farge, E. & Ngarmbassa, M. (2014). “Exclusive: Chad says Nigeria deal with Boko Haram to Free Girls still on”. 24th October, Reuters. Available: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/24/us-nigeria-boko-haram-chad-exclusive-idUSKCN0ID0WD20141024 Accessed: 29th October 2014.

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