President Salva Kiir Mayardit has assured the African Union (AU) of his government’s commitment to peace and stability as South Sudan prepares for the long-awaited general elections scheduled for December this year.
The assurance was made during a meeting in Juba with a delegation from the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan (C5), led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.
The AU delegation also raised concerns over the ongoing court proceedings involving First Vice President Riek Machar and seven other officials accused in connection with the Nasir incident. Machar, a signatory to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, was placed under house arrest in March last year, a development that has drawn regional and international attention.
Speaking after the meeting, Minister Lamola said the delegation was in South Sudan to assess the status of the Revitalized Peace Agreement and review progress made toward preparations for the upcoming elections. He called for calm, unity, and solidarity among all stakeholders to ensure that the necessary conditions for credible elections are fully realized.
Meanwhile, South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Monday Semaya Kumba, reaffirmed the government’s determination to achieve lasting peace, conduct elections as scheduled, and maintain strong cooperation with regional and international partners.
The AU C5 comprises representatives from Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. The committee is mandated by the African Union to engage directly with peace stakeholders in South Sudan to build consensus and accelerate the full implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
