Civil Society in the shadows of Nigeria’s Core Conflicts The International and Media Engagement in the Niger Delta Conflict – Nneka IKELIONWU The topic of this paper is important because the Niger Delta region is strategic and important in the geo-political and economic dynamics of Nigeria. The region is conflict-prone and several civil society organizations had worked, or were at some point, working in the region. They, amongst other things have defended the rights of citizens; monitor and influence policy; as well as try to ensure government remains accountable(Ingram, 2020). It is important to assess their role in the crisis to ascertain whether or not they are operating effectively and efficiently or, whether they might be“doing harm” to the situation. The paper attempts to analyse how extractive activity in the region has served to create a tense environment which has often escalated into agitation and violence. It will highlight“paradoxes of complexities” wherein the amply blessed, albeit severely disadvantaged Niger Delta region is situated. Furthermore, it laid out the usual role of CSOs in peacebuilding and traced the structural causes of conflict and militancy in the region. The paper also distinguished between the method of engagement of CSOs in the military and civilian regimes and concluded that in spite of the differences, the relationship between the government, CSOs and the security sector remain largely the same as in the military era. Some of the functions of the CSOs in operation in the Niger Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nigeria| 85