AN APPRAISAL OF GENERAL SANI ABACHA FOREIGN POLICY (1993 – 1998)

AN APPRAISAL OF GENERAL SANI ABACHA FOREIGN POLICY (1993 – 1998)

ABSTRACT

The main focus of this study is to critically appraises General Sani Abacha Foreign Policy covering the period of 1993-1998. The study will further uncover the  Nigeria’s reputation as a respectable state diminished under the Abacha regime, whose tyranny led to multiple violations of human rights and breaches of international moral and legal  codes.  The study adopts a a historical descriptive approach and with the aid of systems theory the  review of literature focused on foreign policy, diplomacy, genesis of Nigeria-Cameroon Dispute, ICJ decisions, Abacha Policy Conundrum was unearthed.  The study is a qualitative type which   utilized  data from secondary  sources. The  secondary sources of data involve the published materials of experts gathered in the field of international relations. Similarly, the  literature  on  Nigeria‘s foreign policy settings  reported  in journal articles, books, policy documents, Newspapers among others were also used as materials for the study. Findings from the study revealed that His regime was associated with colossal kleptomania, ruthless dictatorship, and execution of political opponents. Abacha was cocooned in the presidential villa and shunned foreign travels, apparently, due to the international pressure on his regime to change its terribly bad human rights posture. Abacha’s foreign policy was almost an extension of the Babangida’s foreign policy thrust