Niger Delta Militants Declare Ceasefire

Nigeria’s militant Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has declared a unilateral ceasefire, halting a week of sustained attacks against the country’s oil industry. MEND announced the ceasefire Sunday, warning however that it would relaunch the raids if they were attacked by the federal army. The militants, who claim to be fighting on behalf of the local population for a greater share of oil revenues, declared an “oil war” against Nigeria’s petroleum industry one week ago following an army attack on their positions.[PE]