Nigeria, South Africa call for immediate ceasefire in Sudan

Nigeria and South Africa have called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mr Ronald Lamola, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation in South Africa, on 19 July 2024, made the call after a meeting on the sidelines of the African Union Executive Council in Accra.

A statement Saturday by Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to Amb Tuggar, said the two officials lamented the loss of innocent civilian lives, humanitarian crisis and displacement of millions of people as a result of the conflict.

“In particular, the two countries expressed grave concern at the ongoing conflict in Sudan which has resulted in the loss of innocent civilian lives, exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, displaced millions of people, affecting women and children, and led to the total destruction of critical infrastructure.

• Bloody gold: Unravelling link between mining and banditry
• How streaming apps are transforming Nigeria’s film industry

“The Ministers reiterated a call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the conflict and the commencement of a process to expedite access to humanitarian assistance.

“To this end, both nations call on the international community to take urgent concrete and practical steps that will facilitate a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sudan in an inclusive manner,” the statement said.

Sudan’s brutal civil war began in April 2023 which pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group.

The power struggle between the leaders of these two groups, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, for control of Sudan has been devastating.

The war has worsened a dire humanitarian situation with widespread hunger and a collapsing healthcare system.

Meanwhile, Abdulkadir said the two Ministers also reaffirmed the existing strong historical bilateral relations and bonds of friendship and solidarity between South Africa and Nigeria and committed to redoubling their efforts to expand and deepen cooperation between the two countries in various sectors.

He said in this regard, the Ministers undertook to finalise preparations for the upcoming session of the Bi-National Commission, which is scheduled to take place in South Africa.