Why Biafran struggle persists: A study in conflict termination and recurrence

Abstract

This article examines the reasons for the resurgence, persistence and recent intensification of the Biafran separatist struggle in Nigeria. It argues that three key contextual issues account for the resurgence of Biafra separatism, namely identity politics, political economy, and state-society relations. While the level of feeling of exclusion and collective victimisation by the separatists explain the persistence of Biafra separatism, the current momentum and escalation of the struggle can be linked to the perceived decline in the capacity of the state and certain government actions and inactions, which have led to a rapid increase in the corps of willing agitators. To de-escalate the conflict and achieve lasting peace, the article calls for a peacebuilding programme that is anchored in social justice, where the goal is not just to stop direct violence, but to address the underlying issues that gave rise to the conflict in the first place.