Nigerians fleeing the Sudan crisis for Egypt are scheduled to be airlifted on Friday (today). Thirteen buses carrying them arrived safely at the Aswan border crossing between Egypt and Sudan.
Due to the fact that the border was closed when the convoy arrived, they will depart early today for the airport, from which they will be transported to Nigeria. The nonstop flight from Cairo to Lagos takes 6 hours.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), who provided the updates, acknowledged that some of the buses stopped midway through the route.
According to reports, the drivers refused to continue because they had not been paid, but the situation was addressed.
Ceasefire Extended Amid Ongoing Fighting in Sudan Crisis
Rival military factions in Sudan have agreed to extend a three-day Sudan crisis ceasefire that was set to expire soon. The 72-hour extension comes after strong diplomatic efforts by bordering countries, as well as the US, UK, and UN. However, reports of heavy fighting in Khartoum continue.
The previous cease-fire allowed thousands of people to flee to safety, and dozens of countries attempted to evacuate their residents. Hundreds of people have been killed in nearly two weeks of the Sudan crisis between the army and a rival paramilitary group.
The Sudan crisis ceasefire was set to expire at midnight local time (22:00 GMT on Thursday). The Sudanese regular army agreed to an extension early Thursday evening, and its adversary, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), followed suit hours later.
South Sudan has offered to host peace negotiations, and the army has agreed to send delegates. Meanwhile, a Sudanese activist, Hala Al-karib, has recently called for intervention to address the Sudan crisis, following recent clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum.
As the Regional Director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, Al-karib expressed deep concern over the rising tensions and the impact of the Sudan crisis on the civilian population.
Al-karib highlighted the panic, atmosphere of fear, and helplessness experienced by the people affected by the Sudan crisis. She called for support from the international community, including the opening of humanitarian windows of assistance and the need for concerted deradicalization efforts.
