Solomon Tembang Mforgham

A row has erupted over a forward in a book written by Congolese president, Denis Sassou Nguesso, which praises the Congolese president and purportedly written by Nelson Mandela.

A book titled Straight Speaking for Africa written by Denis Sassou Nguesso carries a forward supposedly written by Nelson Mandela and praising Nguesso as "one of our great African leaders".

However, the Nelson Mandela Foundation in a statement said the forward was not written by Nelson Mandela. It condemned what it described as brazen abuse of Mandela's name, adding that the Foundation will take appropriate action.

The forward purported to have been written by Mandela said Nguesso was "one of those who gave their unconditional support to our fighters' demand for freedom, and who worked tirelessly to free oppressed peoples from their chains and help restore their dignity and hope."

But the Mandela Foundation said Mandela had "neither read the book nor written a forward for it", adding that Mandela's name has been frequently abused for commercial gain.

The Foundation's Verne Harris is quoted as describing this as one of the grosser examples with a direct impact for Mandela's legacy.

Meanwhile, colleagues of Denis Sassou-Nguesso have reacted, denying the claims that the Mandela comments were invented.

Former Congolese communications minister, Alain Akouala, is quoted as accusing the Mandela Foundation of treating his name "like a brand".

Alain Akouala said the foreword came from a 1997 speech made by Mandela thanking the Congolese people and the president for their help while he was in prison in fighting South Africa's apartheid government in Angola and Zambia.

South Africa's ambassador to Congo is also reported to have insisted the comments praising Sassou-Nguesso were true.

He told South Africa's Times newspaper that the foundation's accusations had embarrassed the country.

The Republic of Congo president took power in a coup and, after losing an election, regained it by winning a civil war.

The Congolese president took power in a coup and, after losing an election, regained it by winning a civil war.

According to book-selling website Amazon, the semi-autobiographical Straight Speaking for Africa was published in English last month by Red Sea Inc of Africa World Press.

Michel Lafon first published the book in French earlier in the year.