International News
Nigeria, Libya move against Sao Tome Coup
Jul 22, 2003, 02:09
| | President Obasanjo said on Monday 21 July that Nigeria is consulting other African countries on how best to use the platform of the Afrcan Union (AU) to challenge the military coup d’etat in Sao Tome.
The country’s democracy was on Wednesday 16 July abolished by soldiers as its President, Mr. Frederique De Menzes, was attending the Sixth Leon Sullivan Summit in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Nigerian leader told visiting Libyan Foreign Affairs Minister, Abdulrahman Shegel that the African union would not tolerate the toppling of a democratically elected government by military adventurers.
He said that the AU charter was clearly against coups but stressed that it might be necessary to begin to think of other sanctions that may be imposed if isolation policy stipulated by the AU charter fails to work in Sao Tome.
The Libyan Minister brought a message of concern from President Muammer Ghadafi about the coup in Sao Tome and Principe as well as a commendation for the efforts being made by the Nigerian leader to restore order in that country.
President Obasanjo thanked the Libyan leader for his concerns about the continent’s well being and used the opportunity to also brief Mr. Ghadafi’s envoy on the Liberian situation and steps being taken by Nigeria to end the conflict there.
Meanwhile, President Obasanjo also received letters of credence from new ambassadors from Bangladesh and Vitenam on Monday 21 July. At separate audiences, he told retired Major-General Mohammed Anwer Hussien (Bangladesh) and Mr. Ngoyen Wanni (Vietnam) to work hard to improve economic relations between their countries and Nigeria.
He also dropped a hint with the Vietnamese ambassador that Nigeria might seek assistance from his country’s technical experts in rice production.
Related Articles:
African Union addresses Sao Tome crisis
President Obasanjo condemns coup in Sao Tome
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