Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra

Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra
Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra
	Flag of Biafra
Abbreviation	MASSOB
Leader	Ralph Uwazuruike
Founded	1999
Ideology	Igbo nationalism; Nonviolent resistance; Separatism
Website
	http://massob.biafranet.com/
	Politics of Nigeria; Political parties; Elections;

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is a secessionist movement in Nigeria, associated with Igbo nationalism, which supports the recreation of an independent state of Biafra. It was founded in 1999^[1] and is led by an Indian-trained lawyer Ralph Uwazuruike, with headquarters in Okwe, in the Okigwe district of Imo State.

MASSOB's leaders say it is a peaceful group and advertise a 25-stage plan to achieve its goal peacefully.^[2] There are two arms to the government, the Biafra Government in Exile and Biafra Shadow Government.^[3]

The Nigerian government accuses MASSOB of violence; MASSOB's leader, Ralph Uwazuruike, was arrested in 2005 and detained on treason charges; he was released in 2007. MASSOB also championed the release of oil militant Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, who faced similar charges at the time.^[4] In 2009, MASSOB launched "the Biafran International Passport" in response to persistent demand by Biafrans in the diaspora.^[5]

^ Heerten, Lasse; Moses, A. Dirk (3 July 2014). "The Nigeria–Biafra war: postcolonial conflict and the question of genocide". Journal of Genocide Research. 16 (2–3): 169–203. doi:10.1080/14623528.2014.936700. ISSN 1462-3528. S2CID 143878825.
^ Estelle Shirbon (2006-07-12). "Dream of free Biafra revives in southeast Nigeria". Reuters.
^ "Biafra News - 04.13.2009". Archived from the original on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
^ Senan Murray (2007-05-03). "Reopening Nigeria's civil war wounds". BBC. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
^ "MASSOB launches "Biafran Int'l Passport" to celebrate 10th anniversary - Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 20 March 2015.

[1] Heerten, Lasse; Moses, A. Dirk (3 July 2014). "The Nigeria–Biafra war: postcolonial conflict and the question of genocide". Journal of Genocide Research. 16 (2–3): 169–203. doi:10.1080/14623528.2014.936700. ISSN 1462-3528. S2CID 143878825.

[2] Estelle Shirbon (2006-07-12). "Dream of free Biafra revives in southeast Nigeria". Reuters.

[3] "Biafra News - 04.13.2009". Archived from the original on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2015.

[Murray-4] Senan Murray (2007-05-03). "Reopening Nigeria's civil war wounds". BBC. Retrieved 2008-08-15.

[5] "MASSOB launches "Biafran Int'l Passport" to celebrate 10th anniversary - Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 20 March 2015.

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