MEND ends ceasefire

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) announced on Saturday, January 30th that it would be ending the ceasefire which it declared last October. The first actual sabotage also occurred on Saturday against the TransRamos pipeline. Although MEND has denied that it is responsible for Saturday's sabotage, This Day reports that flow stations along the pipeline have been shut down by Royal Dutch Shell in order to control new leaks.

All Africa had the story of the ceasefire declaration last October while Saturday's resumption of armed conflict and sabotage was reported both by Sahara Reporters and UPI. Now that the rebels have in fact resumed their campaign of sabotage against the Nigerian people, it will be interesting to see what sort of response the federal government makes, if any. Vice President Goodluck Jonathan actually hails from part of the Niger Delta, although he has shown very little sympathy or patience with the local rebel movements.