Civil-military relations are essential for maintaining peace and stability in any society. However, there are challenges to these relations, especially in areas where there are existing conflicts or tensions. One way to address these challenges is through deliberate community engagement by military and security forces. Engaging with the local communities to discuss and understand the…
On May 22, 2019, CIVIC’s Executive Director, Federico Borello, spoke with Laurie Laird of Crosby-Volmer for Arise TV about the conflict in Nigeria and the country’s proposed policy on Protection of Civilians and Civilian Harm Mitigation: The conflict has already claimed more than 38,000 lives and increased activity by armed opposition groups –…
The following audio story one piece in a collection on our VOICES blog focused on the gendered experience in conflict and how gender differences should factor into the protection of civilians. At CIVIC, we engage civilians and communities to identify and address their protection concerns. We support women as they take on leadership roles within…
By: William Meeker It was a match to win, a goal that would have moved Nigeria to the next round and, more importantly, bring joy to a nation whose uniting factor has always been the beautiful game. Staring at an open net with the goalkeeper beaten, Yakubu scuffed his chance and placed his name in…
As the world observes International Day of the Child, we should stop and consider the critical need to protect civilians, including children, across northeast Nigeria. With some degree of success, the Nigerian government has pushed back armed opposition groups in the country’s northeast – especially Jama’atu Sunnah Lida’awati Wal Jihad and Islamic State West Africa,…
CIVIC Senior Advisor for Programs, Nigeria Chitra Nagarajan discusses civilian protection, the Nigerian military, and CIVIC’s work in the region in an article published by the Humanitarian Practice Network: The Nigerian government has taken these steps in part in response to international pressure to improve the military’s record on human rights, including the decision of the…
By Sarah Rosangela and Kevin George, Center for Civilians in Conflict WASHINGTON—Three years ago today, Boko Haram abducted up to 276 girls from a school in Chibok, in Northeast Nigeria. Since then, 81 girls have been released or escaped, recounting horror stories of sexual slavery and forced marriages to Boko Haram fighters. On this dreadful…
Since mid-2015, CIVIC’s Africa program has grown from one person in Washington to five people based in the US, Nigeria, and East Africa. And we are poised to continue growing. This growth is a direct result of both the sheer volume and complexity of conflicts across the continent and widespread recognition of CIVIC’s value in…
On June 17, the Nigerian Air Force announced it was escalating its air campaign against Boko Haram militants in northeastern Nigeria. But the new phase of its counterinsurgency operations, called ‘Operation Gama-Aiki’ (“Finish the Job” in Hausa), could be deeply problematic, raising the likelihood of increased civilian casualties, decreased trust between the government and the…