Chineme Okafor
18 June 2011
The Federal Government has said it’s considering the possibility of keeping Nigerian troops in Southern Sudan beyond the July 9 Independence of the region.
Briefing the media on Nigeria’s foreign relations in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Martin Uhomoibhi said the government considered it necessary to safeguard the level of peace that has been achieved in the country which has been divided along ethnic lines and that any thoughtless decision on the region may subvert such existing peace.
He added that the decision for a longer stay of the troops in the region was a deliberate move to ensure that the fragile peace that has been achieved in wartorn Sudan is not thwarted by unfolding developments prelude to the much anticipated independence of the south.
Uhomoibhi explained that Nigeria has committed the largest number of troops in peace keeping missions there with about 3,400 soldiers, adding that it would not jump to take decisions that would derail its interests.
“In consistence with our doctrine and philosophy, we are adequately represented as the largest peace-keeping country in Sudan with a contingent of about 3,400 Nigerian soldiers in that place, we have been interested in the Sudanese matter for many years with the comprehensive peace plan that was put together here in Abuja. We are happy with the success of the referendum as well as the prospect of having an independent Southern Sudan on the 9th of July.”
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