BIAFRA
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP79B01737A001500040004-1
Release Decision:
RIFPUB
Original Classification:
C
Document Page Count:
3
Document Creation Date:
December 9, 2016
Document Release Date:
August 1, 2000
Sequence Number:
4
Case Number:
Content Type:
SUMMARY
File:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
CIA-RDP79B01737A001500040004-1.pdf | 113.85 KB |
Body:
J
Approved For Release 100108129 : CIA-RDP79B01737 1500040004-1
CONFIDENTIAL
Biafra
The West African country of Nigeria has been under-
going a civil war for the past 18 mon is and there are no
signs of an early end to the fighting. The war began
when the eastern part of Nigeria seceded, calling itself
Biafra. The Biafrans, who are predominantly members of
the Ibo tribe, are convinced that the federal Nigerian
authorities intend to exterminate them as a tribe, and
they appear to be willing to starve to death rather than
renounce their secession.
As a result of the war, a serious refugee problem
has arisen in Biafra. As the federal troops advanced
into the secessionist territory, the Ibos retreated, and
today approximately 7 million people are crammed into
Biafra which is only about one-quarter of what it was
when the secession was declared. Starvation is a major
problem in Biafra and will probably get worse within
the next few months unless more relief aid is sent.;
Many recent estimates of the rate of starvation, however,
have been greatly exaggerated, and the problem could
probably be solved within a reasonable period of time
if the war would end.
There are several international relief agencies
now aiding Biafra, including the International Committee
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of the Red Cross and several religious organizations, but
these agencies are facing numerous problems. Biafra now
has no sea ports and all supplies must be airlifted into
its one airstrip. The US and UK have for some time been
urging that relief be moved to the Biafrans over ground
routes, but the Ibos fear that federal forces would use
these routes for military-purposes. The federal authorities
are suspicious that the agencies flying relief to the
Biafrans may also be transporting arms, and have there-
fore not given whole-hearted support to the present
relief (f fort. It would seem that some type of land
relief routes will have to be worked out if the problem
is to be dealt with satisfactorily.
The Nigerian Government, which like all new countries
I u very iinnti it t i vc' of i tti rioVorn 1 F,n i.,y , htl been F it -
l sp i e i ou i
of the US role in Nigeria, mainly because the US has
worked to aid the refugees. At the same time, the USSR
has been building a reputation of Nigeria's friend in
need by supplying military assistance to the Nigerians.
The Nigerians have strong ties with the West, however,
particularly with the UK, and it seems unlikely at this
point that they will break these ties, and establish
closer relations with the Soviet Union.
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The civil war itself has been a stalemate since last
September, and it does not appear that either side will
score any major military victories within the near future.
The Biafrans have been able to hold off the much larger
Federal Forces mainly because the French have been supplying
arms to the secessionists. The giafrans also receive some
military support from the four African countries that
have recognized Biafra. Should this stalemate continue,
the Nigerians may well become more suspicious of the US,
while at the same time the Soviets will be given more
opportunities to supply arms to the Nigerians and to try
and increase USSR presence and influence there.
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