As Controversial President Takes Office, Nigerian Militants Declare Ceasefire

As Controversial President Takes Office, Nigerian Militants Declare Ceasefire

LAGOS, Nigeria -- A key militant group in Nigeria's troubled Niger Delta region announced a one-month ceasefire Saturday, giving the country's new president an opportunity to make good on promises to bring an end to the crisis there.

The Niger Delta is the center of the oil industry in a country that is the sixth largest producer in the world, but the region is also home to some of Nigeria's worst poverty. Over the last year-and-a-half, militant groups seeking a share of Nigeria's oil wealth have sprung up in the delta. The groups have kidnapped Western oil workers and bombed industry infrastructure, disrupting the flow of oil from the region and even affecting prices on the global market.

But now the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, a shadowy militant group, is offering a respite.

Keep reading for free

Already a subscriber? Log in here .

Get instant access to the rest of this article by creating a free account below. You'll also get access to three articles of your choice each month and our free newsletter:
Subscribe for an All-Access subscription to World Politics Review
  • Immediate and instant access to the full searchable library of tens of thousands of articles.
  • Daily articles with original analysis, written by leading topic experts, delivered to you every weekday.
  • The Daily Review email, with our take on the day’s most important news, the latest WPR analysis, what’s on our radar, and more.