South Sudan situation disturbing – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the crisis in South Sudan as extremely disturbing.

He spoke at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday while receiving the African Union (AU) Envoy on the Peace Fund, Dr. Donald Kaberuka.

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 membercountries, 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.