Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema released mercenaries who had plotted to overthrow his government because he had learnt from former president Nelson Mandela to forgive, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

Addressing a gathering of African traditional leaders in honour of Madiba, Zuma said he had been at a press conference with Nguema on Wednesday night when a journalist asked why the mercenaries had been released.

A student of Nelson Mandela

"I'm one of those who has been taught by Mandela that as Africans we must forgive," Zuma said Nguema responded.

Zuma said the gathering, which would become an annual event, was appropriately in honour of Mandela.

"He was a man who did not see a contradiction between the traditional system and the modern democratic system."

Zuma said it had been one of Mandela's dreams that political and traditional leaders should work together.

"It is a welcomed initiative for you to come together and honour this hero.

"He [Mandela] took us to democracy, we must strengthen democracy."