Mandela declares truce with Nigeria

Mandela declares truce with Nigeria

JOHANNESBURG (AFP): President Nelson Mandela officially
declared a truce in the war of words with Nigeria yesterday that
was sparked by the execution two years ago of eight Nigerian
human rights activists.

Relations between Abuja and Pretoria are "very sound," Mandela
said after receiving two special envoys sent by Nigerian military
strongman General Sani Abacha at his private home here yesterday
morning.

Mandela added that personal relations between himself and
Abacha, whom he referred pointedly to as "my brother," are
"cordial and harmonious."

"We are working together to solve problems on this continent,"
Mandela said.

He shrugged off as a "so-called diplomatic row" comments
allegedly made by Nigerian Information Minister Walter Ofonagoro
two weeks ago that South Africa was "a white country with a black
head (of state)."

On Wednesday Ofonagoro denied making the comments, blaming the
controversy on opposition politicians whom, he said, were
determined to prevent the creation of good relations between
South Africa and Nigeria.

"I have no reason to doubt the denial," Mandela said after
meeting the two Nigerian envoys on what he said was a "very
sensitive matter."

"I have fully accepted his explanation," he added. "It has not
at all affected the relations with South Africa."

Mandela's comments and style contrasted with the hard-line
approach he took at the Commonwealth summit in Auckland in
November, 1995, when he succeeded in persuading the organization
to suspend Nigeria's membership after its military authorities
hanged the activists, among them author Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Mandela subsequently spearheaded calls for economic sanctions,
including an oil embargo, against Nigeria but backtracked after
he found no international support and was slapped down by the
Organization of African Unity.