MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Nigeria, recent attacks by Boko Haram
15.7.2014 - (2014/2729(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock, Bas Belder on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0016/2014
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on Nigeria, including those of 4 July 2013 and 15 March 2012;
- having regard to the statements by HR/VP Catherine Ashton on Nigeria, including those of 26 June 2014 and 15 April 2014;
- having regard to the Council conclusions on abductions in Nigeria of 12 May 2014;
- having regard to the Council decision to add Boko Haram to the EU list of designated terrorist organizations which entered into force on 29 May 2014;
- having regard to the statement by the spokesperson of the UN Secretary General of 30 June 2014;
- having regard to the UN Secretary General's message of 17 June 2014 to a panel discussion marking the Day of the African Child[1];
- having regard to the Report on Preliminary Examination Activities 2013 by the International Criminal Court (ICC)
- having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, ratified by Nigeria on 29 October 1993;
- having regard to the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion and Belief of 1981;
- having regard to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and in particular its provisions on the protection of freedom of religion in its Chapter IV – Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
- having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure;
A. Whereas due to its location, size of population and mineral wealth Nigeria's stability is crucial for the West Africa and Sahel regions as well as the entire African continent;
B. Whereas this stability has been undermined by the terrorist attacks and insurgency from Boko Haram; whereas the violence instigated by this Islamist jihadi extremist organization has caused over 10,000 deaths in the past ten years; whereas the organization indiscriminately targets Christians, moderate Muslims, government personnel and institutions and in recent months entire villages; whereas there are alarming reports, including from the EEAS and the US State Department, about indiscriminate violence as part of the government response;
C. Whereas in recent months the rate of attacks has dramatically increased and they are becoming increasingly violent, with over 4,000 casualties in the year to date in attacks on churches, schools, market places and villages as well as security installations; whereas Boko Haram is currently extending its area of operations to encompass the entire northern half of Nigeria as well as adjacent areas of neighbouring countries;
D. Whereas in the night of 14-15 April 2014, 276 female students were kidnapped by Boko Haram from the Government Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State; whereas to date more than 200 students are still missing; whereas further kidnappings of schoolchildren have taken place following the Chibok attack;
E. Whereas Boko Haram's attacks and the government response have sparked off a refugee crisis with more than 10,000 seeking refuge abroad, mainly in Niger and Cameroon, and many more Internally Displaced Persons, according to the UNHCR;
F. Whereas the EU and its Member States have repeatedly offered their support to Nigeria in its ongoing efforts to protect its citizens and defeat terrorism in all its forms as well as ending the culture of impunity for the use of sexual violence;
G. Whereas the EU on 28 May 2014 placed Boko Haram and its leader Abubakar Shekau on its list of designated terrorist organizations, following the UN decision to designate Boko Haram as a terrorist organization, and the examples of other international partners;
H. Whereas the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has warned that Boko Haram’s attacks may constitute crimes against humanity, whereas an ICC preliminary investigation has confirmed this warning, when concluding there are reasonable grounds to believe that Boko Haram is committing crimes against humanity and war crimes;
I. Whereas a State of Emergency has been in force since 14 May 2013 in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States;
1. Is appalled by the continuing wave of gun and bomb attacks, suicide bombings, kidnappings and other violent acts committed by the terrorist sect Boko Haram on civilian, government and military targets in Nigeria, which it strongly condemns;
2. Expresses its deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and supports the efforts of the Nigerian government to stop the violence;
3. Is extremely concerned at Boko Haram's active targeting of women and children as part of its bloody guerrilla campaign;
4. Furthermore expresses its grave concern about reports of forced conversions to Islam and the imposition of Sharia law;
5. Urges the Nigerian government and its forces to exercise restraint in tackling insurgent violence and that any efforts to tackle such violence are carried out according to the Nigerian government's obligations under international law; requests the Nigerian authorities to investigate reports of indiscriminate and disproportionate violence by government forces, including the burning of homes and the execution of Boko Haram suspects or even citizens with no apparent link to the organization, and to bring to justice the perpetrators of these crimes;
6. Urges the Nigerian government to fight not only the Boko Haram insurgency but also some of its root causes, including underdevelopment, widespread corruption, radicalization and lack of perspective and asks EU Member States to assist Nigeria in addressing these issues;
7. Expresses concern at the growth in human trafficking, arms and drug smuggling in the region and their links to Islamist terrorism; furthermore notes the connections between the Boko Haram, AQIM and Al Shabab militant groups in this illegal activity; calls on the Nigerian government, working with other governments and international agencies, to eradicate this trade in their wider efforts to combat the spread of international terrorism and the sources which fund it;
8. Applauds the decision by the Foreign Affairs Council to place Boko Haram on its list of designated terrorist organizations; urges the EEAS, the Council and the Commission to work with the UN, the US and other international partners to cut off funding and restrict the movements of Boko Haram and particularly its leadership;
9. Calls on the EEAS, the Commission, the EU Member States and international partners to continue to cooperate with Nigeria, bilaterally and through regional and UN structures, in relief efforts, training of security forces and intelligence sharing;
10. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to swiftly conclude the country strategy 2014-2020 for Nigeria and to include aid and assistance aimed at removing the root causes of the rise of Boko Haram;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the federal Government of Nigeria, the institutions of the African Union, the United Nations Secretary-General, the UN General Assembly, the co-presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, and the PAN-African Parliament.
- [1] http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=7793