Tobi Soniyi in Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja appealed to the warring factions in South Sudan to give peace a chance.
Buhari, who made the call while receiving the African Unity (AU) envoy on the Peace Fund, Dr. Donald Kaberuka, also said that Nigeria would fulfil its financial obligation to the African Union (AU), particularly in connection with programmes and operations aimed at ensuring durable peace, stability and security on the continent.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said Buhari said supporting peace operations, under the auspices of the AU, in several countries affected by conflict remained a foreign policy priority for his administration.
Despite competing priorities on security and the economic downturn in the country, the President assured the AU envoy that Nigeria would also play a central role in seeking the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) to strengthen their support for crisis-prone African countries.
The president used the occasion of the visit of the AU envoy to weigh-in on the situation in South Sudan and appeal for peace and calm in the country.
“What is happening in South Sudan is extremely disturbing and it is a very dicey situation.
“The AU leadership has a crucial role in stabilizing the country and other African countries on the brink.
“What we can do urgently to stabilize South-Sudan is very important as African leaders meet in Kigali, Rwanda this month and later in September at the UN,’’ the president said.
Further details later
