The Nigeria-Biafra War, OAU and the Politics of Diplomatic Recognition of Biafra, 1967 – 1970

Book excerpt: A historical methodology of analysis that is thematic, chronological and descriptive was adopted in this study of the Nigeria - Biafra war of 1967 -1970 particular regarding the Organization of African Unity(OAU) and the Politics of Recognition given to Biafra during the Civil War. The focus of this book is to unearth the factors that propelled the four African states to declare support and accord de facto recognition to the Biafran regime against the OAU's position. The nature, dimension, significance and the implications of such recognition were also analyzed. The tittle of the work is not only interesting but inviting. It spans across the diverse disciplines of History, International Relations, Political Science and International Law. The results indicate as follows: (i) Diplomatic recognition of Biafra by four African state became an elixir to the prolongation of the Nigeria-Biafra war. (ii) The credibility of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) appeared severely tarnished given the contradictions inherent in its charter vis-a-vis the national interests and dispositions of some of its member nations. (iii) Nigeria’s insistence that the conflict was its internal affairs also presented another contradiction, as by so doing, Nigeria purported to be a judge in its own cause by way of adjudication and negotiations. (iv) The blockade and quarantine of Biafran territory meant to emasculate the economy and society of the secessionist enclave, inadvertently succeeded in galvanizing international sympathy for the Biafran cause; besides giving a lie to the aforementioned mantra of Nigeria’s internal affairs, as mentioned earlier. (v) Despite the enormous humanitarian question raised and sustained by the war, power politics and international realist perspective prevailed at the end.