Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohamed Abdelaal, has linked Africa’s socio-economic challenges to foreign interventions and influence, stressing that every borrowed solution comes with a hidden agenda. He urged African leaders to look inward for solutions to the diverse problems of the continent. In this interview with BRIDGET CHIEDU ONOCHIE, the envoy described Nigeria and Sudan as one nation in two countries due to shared history.

How will you describe the relationship between Nigeria and Sudan?

Very close. We share very deep histories such that when I was posted to Nigeria, I told my Chief of Protocol that I am going to feel at home in Nigeria. We share the same features and traditions. Also, about 14,000 Nigerians were studying in Sudan universities before the eruption of the war. Our next door neighbour or colleague may be from the Nigerian community. You find Nigerians in the borders, everywhere. So, it is actually a case of one nation in two countries – an interesting history spanning centuries.

Today, Hausa and Fulani languages are widely spoken in Central and Southern Sudan. You can also hear them speaking the same languages in the Capital City, on the street, in the university, everywhere. Beyond their languages, Nigerians also speak Sudanese local tongues and it is difficult to differentiate between Sudanese and Nigerian indigenous population.

Politically, the relationship between the two countries is so deep and historic. It started centuries ago before Sudanese independence in 1956 and that of Nigeria in 1960. It has been very historic but we need to translate it into economics and trade. Although these exist currently, we still need to work very vigorously and proactively to consolidate the relationship in all domains – economically, trade, and to coordinate between the two countries in the international and regional fora because, as I mentioned, it is one nation in two countries.

In encouraging stronger trade and economic relations, how crucial is the implementation of the African Union protocol on

Freedom of Movement of Persons and Goods?

You know that we are in an area that is very fragile. In Africa generally, there are so many constraints hindering the flow of business between the two countries. We are not a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) but we are a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (EGAD). But we have a good relationship with the people. I am sure that if I visit Kano State or any northern state of Nigeria, I will find Sudanese products available in the market. We only hope that this comes in a regular way. So, my perspective is that we need to work to consolidate this part of our relations.

The cultural relation is moving very well. There is a flow of students between the two countries. Many Sudanese are studying and working here while thousands of Nigerians are also working and studying there in Sudan. Yet, we need to cement and enhance the other parts of the relations, such as economy and trade; this is the language of today – the zeal to make the interest between both countries better and greater. This is so important.

In your view, what are the likely obstacles to achieving a robust trade and economic relations?
The major challenge currently is the instability in Sudan. You know that this war started about three years ago and the militia took many states. Hopefully, we have beaten and defeated them now at the edge of the Darfur region. But we suffered a lot before now. So, the government and the people put all our efforts in one basket to defeat the militia and liberate many states. That was our main challenge – insecurity; but we did our job very successfully. Currently, we have liberated the capital and all neighbouring states and elected a civil government. The government as a whole has started to rebuild our foreign relations with our friendly ancestral countries abroad. So, as soon as we overcome these barriers, we will be in a very good situation to resume our active diplomatic and all relations with Nigeria and others.

Beyond insecurity, how can both countries tackle trade barriers?

As I told you, so many Sudanese products are available in Nigerian markets. We can also see that Sudan is a very rich country with potential economic resources. There are also so many areas and avenues to make great investments mainly from Nigeria. We have sugar and gold. We also have oil but not in the same quantity as Nigeria. So, Nigerian businessmen and the private sector can also engage in trade with Sudan. We had Sudanese airlines coming to Kano and Abuja but they stopped. When we resume our connection, there are many areas to think of. We had set up a ministerial committee between Sudan and Nigeria. We also had a consultative political committee between both countries’ Ministers of Foreign Affairs. We agreed before the outbreak of war to have this consultative committee in August 2023 but unfortunately, the war broke out before that date. So, usually, we have this type of mechanism through which we can strengthen our relations and address all the challenges that face our bilateral relations. The war came and stopped all the activities but we hope that very soon, we will resume the relations and keep it normal and stable.

You mentioned earlier that the militia has been defeated and a civil government elected, but how far has your country gone with a sincere reconciliation process?

Yes, the conflict affected Sudan in all areas because the militia of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed crimes, not only in Darfur, but in all areas. The Capital and the states were heavily devastated – infrastructure, public institutions and private homes were completely looted. Thousands of people were also killed; thousands are still missing and unfortunately, thousands of women were reportedly raped. There are so many international institutions still speaking about those crimes. The most recent report issued by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva spoke about the atrocities committed against the people, particularly the African indigenous population. As I mentioned earlier, the people and the government concentrated on the security issue and fought the militia, and hopefully, we succeeded. We managed to push them out of the Capital to the Darfur area and pockets in Kordofan.

On the issue of reconciliation, we are ready from the very beginning to sign and to reach a peaceful reconciliation. We went on April 11, 2023, 15 days after the war began, to Jeddah and signed a humanitarian declaration. On April 20, 2023, we signed a second declaration about the security arrangements but unfortunately, the militia did not commit itself to the two declarations. Rather, it continued to surround the military areas, continued to commit atrocities and it went far to other regions. Today, Sudan is ready to reach a reconciliation even before tomorrow. We endorsed the African Union roadmap for peace in AU and UN Security Councils. It is a very clear roadmap with five points, one of them being that if we are looking for peace, we want the militia to move out from the cities to certain areas and also disarm. After that, we can resume speaking about peace because peace and any humanitarian truce are impossible while they are holding the weapon. But we will offer perspective and our provision that speaking peace means the militia group is constrained in certain areas and disarmed. After that, we can move forward.

Also, we established our civil government in May last year with Professor KamilAl-TayebIdris, one of the most intellectual Sudanese, as the Prime Minister. He was the Director General of a UN intellectual organisation – World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) for over 10 years. He is the Prime Minister and the full government is working actively – civil government, not military. We have a Sovereignty Council, not executive, comprising about nine persons. The executive is in the hands of the government and the Prime Minister. This is also in our march to peace. We established this government and we are ready to hear, to sign, to speak and negotiate at any time. Unfortunately, there are some voices here and there, but we have a strategy on how to protect the civilians, which is very crucial to us.

Do you also blame the insecurity situation in some parts of Africa largely on foreign influence?

Frankly speaking, one of the main factors that escalated Sudanese crises is the foreign influence. Unfortunately, many people are still supporting the militia through the supply of modern weapons. Without that support, the situation would have been different and the war would have stopped in one month. But the escalation and atrocities committed were because of heavy foreign interventions and influence in our internal affairs. When Africans established the Organisation of African Unity, which later changed to African Union, the leaders were looking for Africanisation of solutions – to solve all African problems internally. Unfortunately, day by day, we continue to export solutions from abroad, thinking they are real solutions to our problems but it is mixed with their agenda; it is not free. We receive the solution with the right hand and their prescription or agenda with the left hand.

So, Africa should think deeply and seriously towards finding local solutions to its problems and not from abroad because any intervention from abroad means their agenda will be there. And since the foreign agenda is there, Africa will never enjoy peace. We Africans are capable of solving our problems; we are qualified enough to solve our problems. Once again, I emphasise that foreign influences play a very negative role in the current problem in Sudan and the situation continues to escalate because of foreign interventions; unfortunately, even from our region and not far away.