The United States is considering lifting
restrictions on sales of arms to Nigeria, officials
of the U.S. Congress have said.
A delegation from the U.S. Congress told military
authorities in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Monday,
that the decision was part of efforts by the U.S.
to enhance cooperation between both countries in
tackling the Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria’s
north-east.
The delegation, which was led by Issah Darrel,
who is also part of the Judicial Committee of the
U.S. Congress, met with the Chiefs of Army,
Naval, Defence and Air Staff in a closed door
meeting.
The Leahy Law
The U.S. Congress deligation’s visit is coming
almost two weeks after President Muhammadu
Buhari’s visited the U.S. and had talks with
President Barack Obama on the war on terror
ongoing in north-eastern Nigeria, economic
development and other issues of interest to both
countries.
Addressing a gathering at the United States
Institute of Peace during his visit, President
Buhari stressed the need for the U.S. Congress to
examine how the U.S. Government could provide
Nigeria with far more substantial counter-
terrorism assistance
with minimal strings.
President Buhari delivering a speech at the United
States Institute of Peace in July 2015
At that meeting, President Buhari said:
“Regrettably, the blanket application of the Leahy
law by the United States on the grounds of
unproven allegations of human rights violations
levelled against our forces has denied us access
to appropriate strategic weapons to prosecute the
war against the insurgents. In the face of
abduction of innocent school girls from their
hostels, indiscriminate bombings of civilians in
markets and places of worship, our forces have
remained largely impotent because they do not
possess the appropriate weapons and technology
which they could have had, had the so called
human rights violations not been an obstacle.
“Unwittingly, and I dare say, unintentionally, the
application of the Leahy law amendment by the
U. S. Government has aided and abated the Boko
Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its
extremist ideology and hate, the indiscriminate
killings and maiming of civilians, in raping of
women and girls, and in their other heinous
crimes. I believe this is not the spirit of the Leahy
Laws. I know the American people cannot support
any group engaged in these crimes.
“I therefore strongly appeal to both the Executive
Arm and the U.S. Congress to examine how the
U.S. Government can provide us with far more
substantial counter-terrorism assistance with
minimal strings. The longer we delay, the deadlier
the Boko Haram gets. At all events, we have re-
written the rules of engagement protecting the
rights of combatants and in particular
safeguarding civilians in theatres of conflict”.
The Nigerian military had maintained that it had
put into consideration the rights of citizens in its
counter-terrorism operations, stressing that it
would continue to uphold that commitment
.
The restrictions on sales of arms by the U.S. to
Nigeria is embedded in the Leahy law which
prohibited the U.S. Department of State and
Department of Defence from providing military
assistance to foreign countries that violate
human rights with impunity.
Source channelstv.com
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