FINAL_Paper_Template1 xDoc13211 x
Need to Alter US Involvement in Nigeria in Regard to the Boko Haram
FINALPAPER TEMPLATE
NOTE: THE PAPER SHOULD BE SINGLE SPACE, 12 POINT FONT, NEW TIMES ROMAN. 4 PAGES (CC’S AND SOURCES DON’T COUNT!) MUST BE ON A TOPIC YOU HAVE NOT YET WRITTEN ON, LISTED IN SYLLABUS OR PRE-CLEARED BY ME.
SAME AS DC TEMPLATE BUT FOUR RECS AND YOU DON’T NEED SEPARATE PARAGRAPHS FOR PROS/CONS — JUST WEAVE INTO THE OVERALL CASE YOU MAKE.
No separate paper example – same as DC paper example but need a 4th rec.
Pick ONE classification (SECRET, TOP SECRET, CONFIDENTIAL, OR CODEWORD)
MEMO TO: POTUS
FROM: APSNA (YOUR NAME TOO)
RE: Urgent need to change US policy …..
DATE:
Issue for Decision (one-two paragraphs)
Summarize the status of the issue, why it is important to the US, and why the time for a decision and change in policy is now (clearly not working, upcoming events, can’t let it fester, etc). Summarize current US policy and why it needs to be changed.
Background 3 pages here or woven into recs)
Background (one page)
Summarize the key developments that led to the current situation, the key issues involved, and other information POTUS needs to know before considering your recommendations. Clearly state what the current US policy is, why it needs to be changed.
You can add one to two pages of background here for each recommendations – or weave them into each recommendation.
****Make sure you explain current policy, how you want to change it, and why you think this approach will secure the outcome you want.
END PAGE COUNT HERE
CC’s
Sources used – I will look for good think tank pieces. Hyperlink or exact site of sourced information – AT LEAST 12 SOURCES. At least five should be from good think tank policy pieces. 3-4 current news, 3-4 USG sources.
Urgent: need to alter US Involvement in Nigeria in regard to the Boko Haram terrorist organization
Carl Pfeifer
Background Problem:
· Boko Haram is a jihadist terrorist organization based in northeastern Nigeria
· Founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf and has been led since 2009 by Abubaker Shekau
· Boko Harams objective is to establish Islamic rule in Nigeria through imposition of Sharia Law
· One of Boko Harams goals is to “purify” Islam in Northern Nigeria and overthrow Nigerian government through use of jihad
· Increasing radicalization of the group forced Nigerian forces to conduct a suppression operation in 2009 which resulted in the death of Harams leader, Yusuf
· After groups death group broke up into splinter factions
· Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau pledged loyalty to Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS)
· Since insurgency of 2009, Boko Haram is responsible for;
-the killing of tens of thousands of people
-displacing 2.3 million from their homes
-contributing to regional food crisis and famines
-causing a protracted humanitarian crisis
Suicide bombings of police stations
Mass abductions including the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in April 2014
· Corruption in security services have hampered efforts to counter the terrorist attacks of the Haram group
· In September of 2015 Director of Information at Defense Headquarters of Nigeria announced that all Boko Haram camps were destroyed but attacks from the groups continue
· Group was still responsible for 136 out of 978 terrorist attacks in whole of West Africa in 2016
· Attacks from group have escalated and still pose a major threat to the U. S’s interest in the country
· US largest foreign investor in Nigeria
· Us and Nigeria have a bilateral trade and investment framework agreement. In 2017 tow way trade goods between the two totaled over $9 billion
· Nigeria is among largest oil suppliers to US
· The Haram group continues to destabilize Nigeria which in turn could lead to the destabilizing of entire West Africa
· Destabilization can potentially provide a base for jihadist groups hostile to US interests
· In August 2020, the U.N. Secretary-General’s report on global Islamic State operations noted that IS-WA “remains a major focus of ISIL global propaganda” and described it as “one of the largest and most conspicuous of ISIL’s remote ‘province
Current US Policy:
· The State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated over $450 million in FY2020 bilateral foreign assistance for Nigeria, supporting programs focused on health, good governance, agricultural development, and law enforcement and justice sector strengthening
· Established African Command (AFRICOM) to expand troops in Africa from 2000 to 7200 by end of 2017
· U.S currently has 1400 troops deployed in West Africa to combat the Boko Haram terrorist group
· African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) allow Nigeria to be fully eligible for trade benefits with the U.S, incentivizing them to continue to do so
· Nigeria a current partner of USAAID’s Power Africa initiative
· U.S-Nigeria Binational Commission (BNC) addresses mutual concerns between the U.S and Nigeria such as concerns with humans’ rights and governance
US Policy Needs to Be Changed:
· Investigation into Boo Harams designation needs to be expedited
· Increase AFRICOM to allow more U.S troops into the country
· Refocus USAID’S Power African from the country of Nigeria as a whole to more of the Northern region
· Increase U.S in US-Nigerian Binational Commission to be more proactive concerns for the country
· Sanctioning of countries that are of suspected of aiding Boko Haram
(NEED TO ADD TO THIS JUST UNSRE OF WHAT TO ADD, SEEMS AS IF ALL THE RIGHT POLICIES ARE IN PLACE US JUST NEEDS TO INCREASE THE POLICIES EFFORTS)
Sources:
Human Rights Watch
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/01/gruesome-boko-haram-killings-northeast-nigeria#
Bureau of African Affairs
https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-nigeria/
Congressional Research Service https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33964
Council on Foreign Relations
https://cdn.cfr.org/sites/default/files/pdf/2014/11/Nigeria_CSR70
Boko Haram Congressional Research
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CPRT-112HPRT71725/pdf/CPRT-112HPRT71725
Canadian Social Science http://flr-journal.org/index.php/css/article/viewFile/j.css.1923669720130903.2916/4264
Spectre of Terrorism and Nigerian Development https://www.umes.edu/uploadedFiles/_WEBSITES/AJCJS/Content/VOL9.%20IMHONOPI%20%20FINAL
Brookings
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2021/02/18/rising-insecurity-in-northwest-nigeria-terrorism-thinly-disguised-as-banditry/
Terrorism and Insecurity in Nigeria
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1081678
Boko Haram: The Islamist Insurgency in West Africa https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-114hhrg98829/html/CHRG-114hhrg98829.htm
