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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Top Nigerian militant sets demands for amnesty |
| 2009-09-03 |
| [Mail and Globe] A top Nigerian militant who has held talks with the government about laying down arms took out a full-page newspaper advert on Wednesday detailing demands that include a military withdrawal from the oil-producing Niger Delta. Government Tompolo, a core faction leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), has held informal talks with the government about surrendering his weapons in return for a presidential offer of amnesty. Security and federal officials said on Tuesday a deal with Tompolo and two other senior militants, Ateke Tom and Farah Dagogo, could be reached within days. In an open letter to President Umaru Yar'Adua published in The Nation newspaper on Wednesday, Tompolo said the offer of amnesty to gunmen in the Niger Delta was seen as part of a wider peace process rather than an end in itself. He said peace would only be achieved once there was dialogue with the government about core issues in the delta, home to Africa's biggest oil and gas industry, including the withdrawal of the joint military taskforce (JTF) from the region. "They may win this war against our just cause but they cannot win the peace in any guise," Tompolo said. "I urge you to authorise your government to commence dialogue with representatives of the people of the region, nominated from elders and leaders of youths," he said. A source close to Tompolo said the letter was authentic. Yar'Adua in June offered amnesty to all gunmen in the Niger Delta to try to stem unrest which has prevented Nigeria from pumping much above two-thirds of its oil capacity, costing it billions of dollars a year in lost revenues. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 For the decades of civil war in Angola both sides avoided damaging the oil infrastructure (and for that matter, the 'deals') because they wanted it to be intact for their side when/if they won. Likewise, the oil companies worked hard to avoid 'taking sides' and just dealt with the party in power at any given time and place. The Nigerians seem to be following a different template. Ugly as Angola was, this template could get even uglier. Makes me wonder if the Chinese are backstopping the militants. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-09-03 08:20 |