The nigerian armed forces in peacetime deployment of troops to congo, Liberia, Mali and Sierra Leone, 1960-2015

This paper analyses Nigeria’s deployment of troops to other African states such as Congo, Liberia, Mali and Sierra Leone in peacetime beginning from the immediate post-colonial period. It is important as a research effort to present the nature of Nigeria’s contribution to peacekeeping, peace building and peace support for the prevalence of unity, peace and stability. This has formed the subject-matter and focus of the paper which is also part of the developments that have informed debates among scholars, decision makers, public policy analysts and commentators at home and abroad. The paper’s findings have demonstrated that Nigeria made significant contribution to peace and security throughout the African continent which considerably enhanced its national interest and national security objectives. But the efforts that Nigeria has made to take its pride of place in the world through this key aspect of its foreign and defence policy were hindered by corruption, problems of leadership and good governance, and continued struggle against imperialist interests. The paper argues nevertheless that Nigeria’s contribution to peacetime stability of the African states has been significant. The methodology-adopted for this paper was the historical research method which uses the multi-disciplinary approach. This methodology also adopted the usage of primary and secondary sources which has been collected, interpreted, evaluated and analysed for harmony and accuracy, corroboration and consistency, in order to achieve the overall objectives of the paper. In conclusion, the paper acknowledges the concerns over Nigeria’s peacekeeping efforts and the benefits thereof to the country.