TheCable

Murtala Bashir, commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), says the ongoing crisis in Sudan may heighten the already dire security situation on the continent if African leaders do not step in.

Bashir spoke at a one-day roundtable themed: “Sudan crisis: Implications for national and regional security” organised by the center for strategic research and studies of the NDC on Monday in Abuja.

The commandant said Sudan had suffered from previous bouts of crisis, adding that the raging war would escalate poverty and hunger in the country, and insecurity on the continent at large.

Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, have been engaged in a violent power tussle since April.

Officials have put the death toll at more than 2,000, but the real number is feared to be much higher.

Millions have fled their homes and are in dire need of humanitarian assistance according to the United Nations (UN).

TheCable had done an explainer detailing what triggered the war and possible consequences here.

Speaking on the war’s impact, Bashir said the crisis is likely to trigger insecurity even outside Africa.

“We should realise that we are yet to get over the shock and the effects of the crisis in Libya. So with this recent developments in Sudan, it is definitely going to aggravate an already dire situation not only in the sub-region but continent and probably outside the continent,” he said.

“That is why as the apex military institution in the country, we felt it is necessary for us to organise this roundtable by inviting very esteemed resource persons with the requisite knowledge, experience and exposure so that we can come and brainstorm, interact and see how we can propose strategies for Nigeria, African continent and maybe international organisations.

“We want to see how this conflict could be resolved as quickly as possible.”

Bashir said the college and its affiliates would have an an in-depth analysis and interrogate the crisis in Sudan and proffer practical and enduring strategies that would hopefully help to put an end to the crisis.

Mahamat Idriss Déby, transitional President of Chad, had also asked former President Muhammadu Buhari and other African leaders to intervene in the ongoing Sudan crisis.