Commonwealth invites Nigeria

Commonwealth foreign ministers this week invited Nigeria to rejoin the 54-nation club when the democratically elected civilian government of President-elect Olusegun Obasanjo is sworn in on 29 May, officials told IRIN on Friday. Analysts said the decision, announced at a meeting of Commonwealth foreign ministers in London, meant an end to three-and-a-half years isolation following the country's suspension from the Commonwealth in the wake of the execution of the author and minority rights campaigner, Ken Saro-Wiwa. He was executed with eight companions in 1995 under the hardline military regime of the late General Sani Abacha. Abacha died in June last year and was succeeded by General Abdulsalami Abubakar who paved the way for general elections and a return to democracy after 15 years of military rule. The decision was taken by the eight-nation Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) established to investigate human rights abuses in member countries. CMAG chairman Zimbabwe Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge, said in an announcement: "CMAG decided to immediately recommend to Commonwealth heads of government that Nigeria's suspension from membership of the association be lifted". The Nigerian foreign ministry welcomed the decision in a statement carried by news media saying it was "a vindication of the efforts of the government to make Nigeria take its rightful place in the international community."