By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA-President Muhammadu Buhari has described the current situation in South Sudan as “extremely disturbing”, urging the leadership of the African Union to work towards stabilizing the country and others on the “brink”.

He also said that Nigeria would fulfil its financial obligation to the AU particularly on programmes and operations aimed at ensuring durable peace, stability and security on the continent.

The president spoke while receiving the AU Envoy on the Peace Fund, Dr. Donald Kaberuka on Monday at the State House, Abuja.

President Buhari said supporting peace operations, under the auspices of the AU, in several countries affected by conflict remained a foreign policy priority for his administration.

Despite competing priorities on security and the economic downturn in the country, the President assured the AU envoy that Nigeria would also play a central role in seeking the EU and the UN to strengthen their support for crisis-prone African countries.

“What is happening in South Sudan is extremely disturbing and it is a very dicey situation.

“The AU leadership has a crucial role in stabilizing the country and other African countries on the brink.

“What we can do urgently to stabilize South-Sudan is very important as African leaders meet in Kigali, Rwanda this month and later in September at the UN,’’ the President said.

In his remarks, Kaberuka said funding AU-led peace support operations, which had remained a challenge for member-countries was further compounded early this year with the EU cut in its allocation to the AU Mission in Somalia by 20 per cent.

Kaberuka said the AU summit in Kigali was expected to agree on a roadmap of alternative financing for AU-led peace support operations, including a proposal for African nations to fund 25 per cent of the Fund’s budget while UN contributes the balance.