Peacekeeping Missions and Nigeria’s International Image: The Case of ECOMOG in Liberia and Sierra Leone

This study examines the contribution of Nigeria-led ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) peacekeeping operations in Liberia from 1990 to 1997 and Sierra Leone from 1997 to 2000, assessing how these interventions shaped Nigeria's international image and diplomatic standing during the military government eras. Nigeria's leadership of ECOMOG operations represented the most significant exercise of West African multilateral military intervention in the post-Cold War period, yet the domestic political context of military authoritarianism created contradictions in Nigeria's humanitarian claims. Using a descriptive analytical design, the study reviews ECOMOG operational reports, UN Security Council resolutions, and diplomatic communiques, supplemented by secondary academic literature published between 2020 and 2024. The Constructivist Theory of International Relations and the Soft Power Framework by Nye provide the dual theoretical lenses. Findings indicate that ECOMOG interventions successfully prevented the complete disintegration of Liberian and Sierra Leonean state structures and generated significant international goodwill for Nigeria, partially offsetting the diplomatic damage of the Abacha regime's human rights record. However, documented cases of peacekeeping abuses complicated Nigeria's humanitarian narrative. The study recommends systematic post-deployment accountability reviews and strengthened rules of engagement for future Nigerian-led peacekeeping operations. Keywords: ECOMOG, peacekeeping, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone.