L’Italia e la crisi del Biafra: il caso della missione Pedini

The essay deals, with new documentation, the Biafran war, in which Italy finds herself through the presence of ENI in Nigeria, put into crisis by the killing and kidnapping of some technicians in the field of Kwale, May 9, 1969. From a humanitarian level the story moves on that of political negotiation with General Ojukwu. As inescapable obstacle, Italy did not recognize the government of Biafra. Here the mission of Mario Pedini begins, which avoids the obstacle through mediation of Gabon and especially the president of Ivory Coast, Houphouet-Boigny, his personal friend. The document highlights the content of the deal, the first of the donation of a dollar amount in exchange for the release of prisoners. After an agreement with Ojukwu, Pedini, with the mediation of Boigny, attains liberation, but the story of the donation remains suspended. Between the summer and winter of '69, ENI takes time and hopes - even after all'incrinarsi the Biafran front and the approaching end of the war - to reduce or eliminate the price of the stakes. At the end of the war, in January '70, the amount is paid only partially, causing the shock of the same Boigny to the ambiguity of the attitude of ENI. As reported by the press, Italy comes out of each other, on the whole, with dignity, but with many doubts on pragmatism with which Eni intends to pursue its oil policy.