As Sudan clashes rage, FG worried about 4,000 trapped Nigerian students

The Federal Government says it is “deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict” in Sudan where over 3,000 Nigerian students are currently trapped.

Already, 330 people have been killed in the country during the raging war.

The clashes have also displaced thousands of civilians who fled the capital, Khartoum.

And some foreign nations have begun evacuating their nationals as the violence which started on April 8 entered its 12th day on Thursday.

President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Sudan (NANSS), Abubakar Babangida, told Daily Trust on Thursday, “Statistically, we have more than 10,000 students studying in Sudan but now some are on holiday. Currently, about 3,000 to 4,000 are stranded.

The association had earlier written to the Nigerian government crying that its members were stranded in Sudan with no access to basic needs.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had made an official request to the Sudanese authorities for permission to evacuate Nigerian citizens.

It however said the non-adherence to ceasefire agreements had made it “impossible” to embark on the evacuation of trapped Nigerians.

Spokesperson for the ministry, Francisca Omayuli, said on Thursday, “The non-adherence of the warring parties to numerous international calls for a ceasefire has worsened the plight of civilians and made it impossible to embark on their evacuation. Nigeria, therefore, wishes to reiterate the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire.”

The students had earlier appealed to the Federal Government to evacuate them from the country where a fierce military confrontation between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Force, has also left 3,200 persons injured.

Before the crisis

Before now, the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel al-Burhan, and the RSF paramilitary group, headed by General Mohamed Dagalo were allies.

They worked together in 2019 in a popular uprising that overthrew Sudan’s brutal dictator, Omar al-Bashir, who ruled the country for three decades.

After the coup, a power-sharing government was formed, made up of civilian and military groups.

The plan was for the interim government to rule Sudan for a few years and oversee a transition to a civilian administration but in 2021, al-Burhan, who had become chief of the power-sharing council, dissolved it, declaring he would instead hold elections in 2023.

How fighting broke out

The current fighting broke out between the army and the RSF as a result of failed negotiations over integrating the two forces ahead of the intended restoration of civilian rule.

There was disagreement over which General would be subordinate to the other, and how quickly the RSF would be incorporated into the Sudanese military.

Heavy fighting broke out on April 8, with the cities of Khartoum and Obdurman being turned into battlefields.

Though two ceasefires were agreed upon by the warring factions, both failed to stop the violence.

World leaders/groups react

Several global bodies have condemned the war in Sudan as no fewer than 330 people have been killed with at least 3,200 injured.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), expressed deep concern over the situation and described the crisis as heartbreaking.

“The lack of safe access, of electricity, food, water, personnel and the diminishing medical supplies are making it nearly impossible for many health facilities to function at the exact time when there are thousands injured in need of urgent care,” he said.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the violence could push millions into hunger in a country that has previously struggled with famine and drought.

The United Nations (UN) agency said its staff, offices, vehicles, equipment and food stocks have also come in the direct line of fire, leading to the death of three of its officials on Saturday.