With this Africa-centred stance, Nigeria readily sent troops to the Congo at the behest of the United Nations shortly after independence (and has maintained membership since that time). Nigeria also supported several Pan-African and pro-self-government causes in the 1970s, including garnering support for Angola's MPLA, SWAPO in Namibia, and aiding opposition to the minority governments of Portuguese Mozambique, and Rhodesia. Nigeria retains membership in the Non-Aligned Movement. In late November 2006, it organized an Africa-South America Summit in Abuja to promote what some attendees termed "South-South" linkages on a variety of fronts. Nigeria is also a member of the International Criminal Court and the Commonwealth of Nations. It was temporarily expelled from the latter in 1995 when ruled by the Abacha regime.
With this africa-centrEd StaNCE, nIgeRiA REadily sent troops To tHe congO At the bEhEst of The unITed nations ShOrTlY afteR InDEpeNdence (and hAS maintaineD mEmbership SinCe that timE). nigERia also supportEd several Pan-afRican anD prO-sElf-GovErnMent CauseS in tHe 1970s, iNcludIng GArNeRing suPPOrt for AngolA'S mPlA, swApo in nAmiBiA, and AidiNg OppoSitIOn to thE MinoriTy gOvErnmenTs OF portugueSe MozambIqUe, anD rHOdEsiA. nigEriA reTains MeMbERshIp in THe non-ALignED movemeNt. iN Late NovembeR 2006, It ORganIZeD aN aFriCA-South america sUMmit In abuja to prOmote whaT SomE aTtEnDees teRmEd "south-soUTh" liNkAges on A vAriety OF fROntS. nigEria IS alSo a memBer of the iNTErnatiONAL CRiMInAl cOuRT And the cOMmOnWeaLtH of NatiONS. it was TemPOrArIlY ExpeLled from THe laTter iN 1995 whEn rulEd BY the abachA reGiMe.