Nigeria´s electoral process is moving better than anticipated

So far, so good! That´s the happy comment one can make tonight regarding the presidential elections in Nigeria. The process might have had some flaws but for now both key candidates seem prepared to accept the outcome of the elections. Outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan has surprised us with his mature acceptance of defeat. He has congratulate his opponent, the yet-to-be-officially declared winner, general Buhari. This is a great move by someone that has been a messy president but, in the end, has shown great sense of duty and a strong commitment to a peaceful transition in Nigeria. 

Nigeria: can we believe there is an agreement with Boko Haram?

Knowing as I know the players, I am afraid the announcement made by the Nigerian presidency regarding an accord with Boko Haram might just be wishful thinking, at best. But it can even be worse than that. It can just be a deceitful statement at a time the electoral fever is about to start.

The next few days will tell. 

#BringBackOurGirls

The international campaign #BringBackOurGirls has had some impact on the Nigerian government. The President is finally moving. For about three weeks – and this bog has been one of the very first to call the attention to the terrible fate the school girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorists were in – the country´s leadership tried to sweep the issue under the carpet. Now the outcry is too big to be ignored.

But a key question remains: how to explain the failure to protect these school children and the many civilians in the North-Eastern part of the country that are under constant threat? How can we understand this failure in a country that has a large army, good special forces and good intelligence? Who is giving a chance to Boko Haram to commit the horrendous crimes that are now their trademark? Who are the political backers of the terrorists and why?