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  3. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969–1972
  4. Document 62

62. Situation Report Prepared by Nigerian Task Force1 2

Washington, April 29, 1969, 4:00 p.m.

Arms for Biafra

According to a fairly reliable source French officials estimate that an average of 20–40 tons of arms a day have gone into Biafra since March 31, more than during any comparable period since the Nigerian conflict began. Included in these calculations were arms derived from two French commercial shipments and a French military aircraft to Gabon. Another source reports that the Biafrans are continuing their efforts to obtain fighter-bomber aircraft.

Czechs Offer to Resume Arms Shipments to FMG

A reliable source reports that the Czech Government through its Embassy in Lagos has offered to resume arms shipments to the FMG halted during the Dubcek regime. There is apparently some opposition to acceptance of this proposal on the part of senior Nigerian civil servants. In addition a merchant ship carrying sizable quantities of Algerian arms is said to have sailed for Lagos a week ago.

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 741, Country Files, Africa, Nigeria. Secret. Drafted by D.F. Smith (AF/W) and approved by Melbourne.↩
  2. French officials estimated 20–40 tons of arms per day had gone into Biafra since March 31.↩