President Muhammadu Buhari pledged Friday in Abuja that Nigeria will
continue to work in close collaboration with the African Union and the
international community for the achievement of reconciliation and lasting
peace in South Sudan.
Speaking at an audience with the United Nations’ High Representative for
South Sudan, Alfa Oumar Konare, President Buhari urged the government of
South Sudan and other political factions in the country to start
implementing the various peace agreements reached under the auspices of
the United Nations, the African Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority
on Development in Eastern Africa (IGAD) .
The President stressed that compliance with the agreements by all parties
to the dispute in South Sudan was an essential first step towards
returning the country to the path of peace, stability and development.
The United Nations Representative told President Buhari that violence had
regrettably continued in South Sudan in spite of several peace agreements.
Mr. Konare expressed concern that the continuing political dispute in
South Sudan could deteriorate further if left unresolved, and worsen the
humanitarian crisis in the country with negative consequences for
neighbouring countries.
“What we have before us is a very complicated situation and I am concerned
that unless the parties start implementing the various agreements for
peace, the crisis will deepen,’’ he told President Buhari.
President Buhari later received the Coordinator of Nigeria’s Honorary
International Investors Council, Baroness Lynda Chalker.
The President assured her that his administration will welcome useful
suggestions from local and international entrepreneurs on ways of
accelerating the pace of economic development in Nigeria.