NIGERIA’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEMOCRATIZATION IN SIERRA LEONE, 1995-2005

ABSTRACT

This study problematizes the issues of good neighbourliness and democratization in Africa, and analyses the effects of Nigeria’s economy on these. Focusing on the relationship between Nigeria’s foreign policy and the democratization process in Sierra Leone, the study examines the challenges Nigeria faced in trying to achieve her foreign policy goals as she spearhead conflict resolution in the sub-region. Utilizing dominant approach of conflict resolution theory as our explanatory framework, observational technique and content analysis as our method of data collection and analysis respectively, the study evaluates the role Nigeria played under the auspices of the ECOMOG, and the sacrifices made to restore peace in Sierra Leone and contends that generally, Nigeria’s foreign policy has been the driving force behind every peacekeeping operation in West Africa and that Nigeria deployed both her material and human resources to restore a democratically elected government in Sierra-Leone in particular.