Political crisis in Sudan engages Buhari, Chadian leader in discussion in Makkah

The political crisis in Sudan prompted a heart-to-heart discussion between President Muhammadu Buhari and Transitional President of Chad, Gen. Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.

Both leaders expressed concerns over ongoing fighting, which had erupted in the Sudanese capital between the military and powerful para-military, Rapid Support Forces, RSF.

In order for the crisis not to snowball into other neigbouring countries, the Chad President Deby-Itno said, “they have closed their borders to Sudan and reinforced security”.

Buhari on his part said he has spoken to the leaders of both factions.

He insisted that if everyone tries, it will calm down the situation.

“African leaders, especially the elders (President Buhari), Macky Sall (Senegal) and AU Chairperson Azali Assoumani (Comoros) need to step in. For two days, they have been killing themselves,” Buhari told Itno Deby.

A terse statement by Buhari’s media aide, Garba Shehu, quoted the Nigerian President also describing the fighting that has claimed tens of lives as unfortunate.

Both of them, while condemning the crisis, called on all neighbouring countries and the international community to prevail on the warring factions to end the fighting and move into negotiation.

According to Buhari, the situation in Sudan is quite unfortunate, and Sudan deserves peace after all that it had gone through in the past.

Buhari also lauded the Chadian leader for his “efforts to see a calming down in his country and for them to live peacefully. But you have to keep trying.”

Deby-Itno, during the discussions also responded to Buhari, saying the situation in Sudan was worrisome.

“Unfortunately, if it is not arrested, it will have serious repercussions on neighbouring countries,” Deby-Itno stated.

Buhari is currently out of the country, prescisely in Saudi Arabia where he is observing the lesser hajj