Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) (Nigeria), GROUPS - AFRICA - ACTIVE

Group Formation
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was formed in late 2005, and the first known attack conducted by the group was the bombing of Shell's Opobo pipeline in Delta state on 20 December. That event was estimated to have shut down close to a quarter of Nigeria's daily oil output, and was unique among militant attacks at the time because MEND did not benefit financially from the attack. On 11 January 2006, MEND issued its first group statement following the kidnapping of four foreign oil workers from the Tidewater owned Liberty Service in the offshore EA oilfield. According to militant leader Alhaji Dokubo-Asari, MEND was formed at a gathering of various delta militant factions in Okorenkoko, on the Escravos River south of Warri. It was decided at this gathering that the disparate groups of the delta required a unified platform that could garner greater media attention than the individual groups acting autonomously. As Dokubo-Asari stated in an interview with Sahara Reporters in 2007, "MEND was created not as an organisation but as a name for the purpose of issuing unified statements." The decision to form MEND was in part motivated by Dokubo-Asari's arrest on treason charges in September 2005, with these charges relating to the activities of Dokubo-Asari's own group, the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF). The new group dispensed with a rigid hierarchical command and control structure, and its leadership has evolved continuously since 2005. Although MEND communiques are frequently issued under the name

Aims and Objectives
Since its founding, MEND's aims and objectives have continually evolved, reflecting the group's changing structure and current events in Nigeria. However, throughout its existence, MEND has differentiated itself from other delta groups by credibly representing the grievances of the local population against government corruption, environmental degradation, and perceived mismanagement of oil revenues. Unlike the majority of delta groups that are perceived as self-interested, involved with corrupt politicians and businessmen, and generally symptomatic of the criminality that pervades the region, MEND has sought to portray itself as defending the rights of the people of the Niger Delta against the predatory and corrupt Nigerian government and foreign energy companies. In this way, the key themes and objectives of MEND's campaign have been to obtain a greater share of, if not exclusive rights to, the Niger Delta's oil and gas revenues; to end corruption in the delta; and to gain the release of key leaders from prison, such as Henry Okah and Alhaji Dokubo-Asari. MEND's first public statement came in January 2006 and illustrated the group's determination to pressure the Abuja government and foreign energy companies into reforming their policies in the delta. That statement, which came just following the kidnapping of four employees supporting Shell oil, stated that MEND sought: 1) the release of the jailed NDPVF leader, Alhaji Dokubo-Asari, and former Bayelsa state governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; 2) USD1.5 billion in compensation payments for environmental degradation by the oil producing companies; and 3) a greater share of national oil revenues. Since this

The complete article appears in the following publication:
Publication Title	Jane's World Insurgency and Terrorism
Publication date	May 10, 2012
Section	GROUPS - AFRICA - ACTIVE
Publication synopsis	Jane's World Insurgency and Terrorism profiles every significant terrorist and insurgent movement worldwide with 'at-a-glance' summaries of threat levels, status, founding date, aims and objectives, and leadership. In-depth threat analyses focus on recent attacks, claims of responsibility, targeting and tactics, personnel and recruitment, operational preparedness and limiting factors. The portfolio of profiles for active groups is deepened as new groups emerge to provide the greatest level of coverage and analysis possible. Regular updates of the most active groups allow you to keep track of terrorist activity globally and ensure that notable shifts in doctrine, leadership and capabilities are captured.
In addition to a detailed threat assessment, group profiles also address	Sources of funding Alliances Sources of weapons Organisation and command structure Political and religious affiliation Propaganda techniques Leader biographies Overview of campaign
Different sections provide in-depth detail covering	Groups - Africa - Active Groups - Africa - Dormant Groups - Americas - Active Groups - Americas - Dormant Groups - Asia - Active Groups - Asia - Dormant Groups - Europe - Active Groups - Europe - Dormant Groups - International - Active Groups - Middle East - Active Groups - Middle East - Dormant

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