Non-Subscriber Extract
Nigeria's president denies claims of AFRICOM support
By Segun Adeyemi
19 December 2007
Nigeria's stance on the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has been clarified following confusion sparked by a statement made by Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua during a visit to Washington, DC.
After meeting US President George Bush in the White House on 13 December, Yar'Adua announced that Nigeria had resolved to partner with AFRICOM "to actualise its peace initiatives and security on the continent".
The statement, taken as an endorsement of the command, elicited angry reactions in Nigeria, with the opposition Action Congress slamming Yar'Adua for "elevating expediency over Nigeria's sovereignty" by endorsing AFRICOM in return for a US recognition of his government.
However, President Yar'Adua later denied endorsing AFRICOM, telling Nigerian media that he had only asked President Bush to help Africa to establish its own version of AFRICOM, under African management, without allowing the US any basing rights in Nigeria.
Image: Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua