South Sudan situation disturbing – Says President Buhari

Buhari who appealed for peace and calm in the country said the African
Union leadership had a crucial role in stabilising the country and other
African nations 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,’’ Buhari said.      

He pledged that Nigeria would fulfil her financial obligations to the
African Union (AU), particularly on programmes and operations aimed at
ensuring durable peace, stability and security on the continent. 

Earlier in his remarks, Kaberuka had said funding AU-led peace support
operations, which had remained a challenge for member-countries, was
further compounded early this year with the EU’s cut in its allocation
to the AU Mission in Somalia by 20 percent.

He noted that the AU summit in Kigali was expected to agree on a roadmap
of alternative financing for AU-led peace support operations, including
a proposal for African nations to fund 25 percent of the fund’s budget
while UN contributes the balance.