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March 15, 2005

Nigeria, the next Afghanistan?

Many experts raised the attention on Nigeria, since 9/11, as a nation where anti-americanism could feed Al Qaeda cells. According to Princeton Lyman, a former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, one of the recommandations of the 9/11 commission was to "take steps in remote regions, such as West Africa, to prevent the rise of future sanctuaries".

The Nigerian case is special : the country is multi-ethnic and multi religious. In a country where the population already suffers from poverty and marginalization, it's easy to deviate from moderation to extremism. That's why the administration should avoid a faux-pas by acting very cautiously. "Washington should seek to ``pre-empt'' the rising radicalism, not with military force but through diplomatic and economic engagement" says Lyman.

Read more about Nigeria, the next Afghanistan?

Posted March 15, 2005 11:07 PM

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