The international community has reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating peace talks between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the Embassies of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union Delegation, called for urgent diplomatic engagement between the two leaders to restore stability in the conflict-ridden nation.
“We reaffirm as a matter of urgency our call that South Sudan’s leaders, including President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, meet and engage in direct dialogue to restore and maintain peace. We are prepared to facilitate their discussion,” the statement read.
The joint statement strongly condemned the ongoing violence in Upper Nile State, particularly in Nasir County, where aerial bombardments have reportedly resulted in civilian casualties. The embassies expressed grave concern over the plight of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) survivors from the Nasir Garrison who have been unable to return to safety. They also decried the continued detention of senior officials in Juba without charges, emphasizing the need for adherence to the rule of law and due process.
“The Embassies of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the Delegation of the European Union, deplore the continued violence in Upper Nile State, including aerial bombardment in Nasir County and credible reports of civilian casualties. We remain concerned about reports of SSPDF survivors of the Nasir Garrison who have been unable to return to safe locations, as well as of continued detentions in Juba of senior officials without charges,” the statement added.
The international community urged all South Sudanese leaders to avoid unilateral actions and reject the use of violence as a political tool. Instead, they called for prioritizing the interests of the South Sudanese people by fostering peace and stability.
This renewed diplomatic pressure comes as South Sudan continues to grapple with political instability and sporadic violence despite previous peace agreements. With international actors offering to mediate, the hope remains that South Sudan’s leadership will embrace dialogue to chart a sustainable path toward national unity and peace.
