Between Afrocentric Foreign Policy Thrust and Domestic National Security Interest: A Review of Nigeria's 'Intervention' in Mali

Abstract

This paper focuses on Nigeria’s participation in the military intervention in Mali in January 2013 to assist the country’s beleaguered government fight the al-Qaeda supported Tuareg rebels and restore peace and stability to the West African neighbour. While the paper contends that Africa as the centre-piece of Nigeria’s foreign policy since its attainment of independence in 1960 is understandable given the country’s vantage position in Africa, it nonetheless examines the rationale for troops deployment to Mali in the face of threat to its domestic national security orchestrated by the activities of Boko Haram in the North and other armed opposition groups elsewhere in the country. This is with a view to finding out whether its action is in consonance with its perceived national interest or African solidarity or both. The national interest approach will be utilized for the paper.

Keywords: Military, Foreign Policy, National Security/Interest, Terrorism, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram