Biafran War

AD – MPE: 0.1

ND – MPE: 1.1

White cites 15 estimates for the number of people killed in the Nigerian Civil War from 1967 to 1970. The median falls at 1 million. The Wikipedia-article called “Nigerian Civil War” cites estimates for the number of people killed by the blockade of Biafra, which range from 0.5 to 2 million. The blockade was a deliberate attempt by the central government to force the population of Biafra into submission. I choose 1.2 million as the most plausible estimate for the number of civilians killed during the war.

Britain and British Petroleum supported the central government with money, weapons and diplomacy. This aid was highly significant. France supported the Biafran secessionists with weapons, mercenaries and diplomacy. Israel supplied both sides with weapons. I blame advanced democracies for 4 to 14 percent of the deaths.

Plausible estimates for the number of civilians killed by nondemocracies range from 0.4 to 1.9 million. The most plausible estimate is 1.1 million. Plausible estimates for the number of civilians killed by democracies range from 0.06 to 0.18 million. The most plausible estimate is 0.12 million.