The War in Sudan, and the Nigeria government's response. - Chikeluba

 

4th from left: President Buhari
2nd from left: Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria's Foreign affairs minister.


The North Eastern African country of Sudan has been embroiled in crises for a long period of time, with the recent being a face-off between two Generals who previously enjoyed ecstatic bromance that ousted the administration of former President Omar al-Bashir. 

The present scenario can be likened to a coalition of two male lions in the struggle for territorial acquisition, took down the dominant male in a pride, then resorted to internal squabble and bickering, resulting in a fight for supremacy.

Of the two warring Generals, one is a career soldier, in the person of General Abdel Fatta al-Burhan of the Sudanese army, and the other is a street General, by name Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who came to prominence through unconventional means.


Gen. Dagalo               Gen. Burhan

The saying that when two elephants fight, it's the grasses that bear the brunt comes to light in the present situation in Sudan, as the civilians and especially foreigners are caught up in the fiery exchanges.

Among those trapped in the face-off are Nigerian students. Civil aviation airports have been reportedly shut down, stalling any means of evacuation by air within the country.

Foreign governments that have interfered in the crises have only acted in bids to evacuate mostly diplomats, leaving the ordinary civilian in trepidatious uncertainty. The United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU), have not really shown that they want the crisis to abate, with tangible steps at conflict resolutions, even the use of minimum force.

The Nigerian government in its usual unpreparedness, has been making pronouncements, with little or no corresponding action towards evacuating the Nigerian students trapped there.

While there's nothing wrong in making pronouncements, the federal government can walk the talk by actually engaging airlines within and outside the country to ensure immediate evacuation exercise once the situation permits movement of civilians to borders where airlifting can be possible. Nigeria as well is not a fledgling nation when it comes to African affairs.  As the hyped giant of Africa, it's pitiable seeing the nation taking a back seat at finding lasting solution to the conflict in Sudan.

When will Africa rise to the occasion and handle the business of the continent like it is Africa's business? Africa has come a long way to continue being spoon-fed by the western world.

It is also commendable, the charitable gesture of the owner of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, in offering to freely airlift Nigerian citizens out of Sudan. This is not the first time the CEO is displaying such magnanimity, similar operations were undertaken by the airline during Covid pandemic, South Africa xenophobic attacks and Russia- Ukraine war. 

The federal government can leverage on the offer by Air Peace, to partner with the airline, alongl with other philanthropic organizations to ensure a concerted and well coordinated exercise of evacuation.

Nigeria has all it takes to make the nation proud, and by extension the continent.

We can rise to the level where incidences like this can be matched with the urgency it requires.

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