Nigeria resolved to maintain troops in Sudan’s Darfur despite attacks

Oct 11, 2005 (ABUJA) — The Nigerian government said here Tuesday the killing of two Nigerian soldiers on peace keeping mission in Sudan last week will not affect its resolve to maintain peace in troubled territories.

Nigerian troops prepare to board a U.S. military plane in the Nigerian capital Abuja, October 28, 2004.

Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Alhaji Abubakar Tanko told reporters in the capital Abuja that such incidents would not deter the nation from helping African nations in turmoil.

“We have a strong resolve and commitment toward our African brothers that can not be shaken by such attacks,” he said, adding:”we shall not only continue the peace keeping efforts, but also intensify efforts even beyond the African continent.”

The minister also restated Nigeria’s resolve to continue to host the African Union (AU)-sponsored mediations toward an amicable resolution of the Darfur crisis.

Tanko, however, challenged all parties involved in the crisis to sheath their swords and resolve the issues peacefully as all parties appeared war-weary and willing to end the bloodshed.

At present, the Sudanese government and the two major rebel groups — the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) are holding talks in the Nigerian capital to end the Darfur crisis which claimed thousands upon thousands of lives and displaced some one million others.

(Xinhua)