NGOs and ethno-religious conflict management : a case study of interfaith mediation centre and christian-muslim peace movement in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

This thesis analyses the role of NGOs in managing ethno-religious conflicts and examines why their strategies make them effective role players in the Bauchi and Kaduna states of Northern Nigeria. The thesis explores the integrative non-violence interreligious approach to informal intermediary peacemaking by IMC and CMPM for social change. Significant differences are found in their activities in dealing with violent conflicts, using new methods and strategic plans of action referred to as the voluntary intermediary conflict solution that are practically justifiable via facilitated interfaith dialogues, mediations and negotiations. The thesis focuses on the direct intervention of the two NGOs selected in analyzing their role perception and cooperation in the areas they served between 1999 and 2012. Critical to the goal of this research is the discovery and descriptive analysis of how NGOs manage ethno-religious conflicts as perceived by the local population and why strategies employed are effective. Lederach’s Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding theory (1997) suited the research and was used as the theoretical framework for the analysis of active engagement of NGOs in ethno-religious conflict management in Northern Nigeria. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews and documentary sources of the qualitative research methodology. Thus, face-to-face interviews were used for collecting data from the NGO officials, community/religious leaders as well as focus group discussions on various parameters. A thematic analysis of categories and themes was done to analyze, describe and interpret indicators in the analytical framework. The results of the study reveal that, the NGOs’ strategies have persuaded cooperative ethno-religious conflict management which enjoy acceptability on mutual interest and integrative outcomes. The thesis indicates that NGOs are strong role players in responding to complex emergencies through effective peaceful means. The study found that NGOs ethno-religious conflict management in Northern Nigeria is effective, peaceful as well as preventive. NGOs strategies of action are non-violent, accommodative, integrative and non-partisan. The research also found that IMC and CMPM have made significant efforts in promoting peaceful co-existence and in inculcating the culture of sustainable peace among disputants by using religious scriptures and direct peace talk. This has led to the conclusion that the NGOs’ intermediary role in ethno-religious conflict management relates more to how the locals view the process and which method best brings disputants to peace talks and peacebuilding.