Abstract
Diplomacy has long served as a primary means of conflict resolution, both before the
outbreak of war and during wartime. When Diplomacy fails to sustain peace, war
becomes the last resort. In wartime, however, diplomacy often shifts focus toward
ceasefires and sustainable peace. This dynamic was evident in Nigeria-Biafra
relations: the failure of pre-war peace summits led to open conflict, after which
diplomatic efforts intensified in pursuit of a ceasefire. Employing a chronological
narrative approach, this paper examines peace summits held before and during the
Nigerian-Biafran War, the positions of the belligerents, and the role of international
actors. It also analyzes why the peace conferences failed, using Zero-Sum Game
Theory as an interpretive framework.The study draws its sourcesmainly from archival
materials, textbooks, journals, magazines, and newspapers.Findings reveal the
enormous human and material costs of the conflict and demonstrate that the peace
summits failed mainly due to the absence of a neutral mediator, the asymmetric nature
of the war, and the unwillingness of the parties to compromise.The paper recommends
adopting neutral mediation, confidence-building measures, and inclusive negotiation
frameworks to prevent similar outcomes in future conflicts. This study contributes to
the growing body of knowledge on peacebuilding and conflict management in African
societies.