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.