The African Union (AU) has taken a decisive step in addressing the ongoing instability in South Sudan by dispatching a high-level delegation of the AU Panel of the Wise to Juba, the country’s capital. The panel’s primary objective is to engage all stakeholders in mediation efforts and to support the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
In a statement issued on Monday, the AU reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating dialogue among all parties and urged them to uphold the provisions of the R-ARCSS. The pan-African body emphasized that it remains actively engaged with regional and international partners, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the East African Community (EAC), and the United Nations, to assist South Sudan in its transition to lasting peace and democracy.
The intervention comes amid growing tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, whose strained relationship has defined South Sudanese politics for decades. Despite the signing of the 2018 peace deal that ended a brutal civil war claiming nearly 400,000 lives, recent political and security challenges threaten to derail progress.
The latest violence in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, has further exacerbated the situation. Clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and opposition fighters in January resulted in the deaths of dozens of people and the detention of several senior officials, including Machar. The renewed hostilities have unsettled both South Sudanese citizens and the international community, raising concerns over the fragile state of peace in the country.
Following direct talks with President Kiir, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf acknowledged the evolving political landscape and expressed the AU’s dedication to ensuring sustainable peace. The AU’s mediation efforts are expected to provide a framework for constructive dialogue and reconciliation between the warring factions.
South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has struggled with persistent political turmoil and armed conflicts. The AU’s latest initiative reflects a renewed push for stability, with hopes that the Panel of the Wise can help navigate the country toward a more peaceful and democratic future.
