Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUJA2102
2008-10-24 15:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

NIGERIA CONTINUES TO TAKE A STRONG LINE ON

Tags:  PGOV NI OTHERSASNEEDED 
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P 241537Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4263
INFO RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0037
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1446
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0438
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0131
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002102 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA
DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV NI OTHERSASNEEDED
SUBJECT: NIGERIA CONTINUES TO TAKE A STRONG LINE ON
MAURITANIAN COUP

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002102

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA
DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV NI OTHERSASNEEDED
SUBJECT: NIGERIA CONTINUES TO TAKE A STRONG LINE ON
MAURITANIAN COUP

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).


1. (SBU) On October 19, Mauritania's Ambassador to Nigeria
Ahmedou Ould Mohamedou called on MFA and met with Nigerian
Minister of State Tijani Kaura. Later, Kaura told
journalists that he had told the Mauritanian Ambassador that
President Yar,Adua,s government stood for the rule of law,
and Nigeria would not support any government which came to
power through non-democratic means, or an
extra-constitutional process. Kaura described the
Mauritanian Junta,s statement about returning to democracy
as soon as possible as "ambiguous," and insisted on the Junta
immediately announcing a timetable for a return to
constitutional rule.


2. (SBU) In his own comments, Mauritanian Ambassador Ould
Mohamedou said his country did not regard the "recent change
of government" as a coup, but as a bloodless "corrective
measure" to right wrongs committed by the Abdullahi
government. In response, the GON's Kaura declared to the
press that "a coup is a coup, whether bloody or bloodless,"
if there is a change of government outside constitutional
processes. In the same press report, MFA Press Secretary
Boade Akinola added that, "even if there were wrongdoings, by
a government, there is a constitutional process for handling
such issues."


3. (C) Comment: There is no official written statement of
GON views on the Mauritanian coup. However, these robust
comments to the Nigerian press put its position on the public
record. Nigeria has continued to say the right things and
take a strong line against the Mauritanian coup, which we
will continue to encourage, including in the Ambassador,s
next meeting with the Foreign Minister. End comment.


4. (U) This cable coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
Sanders