The African Union Commission's "Panel of the Wise" will visit Juba from April 2-6, 2025, to engage with the presidency and peace agreement institutions.
The commission’s Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf stated
that the mission aims to de-escalate tensions and address the peace deal's
implementation after the arrest of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, which
has raised concerns about the fragile peace.
According to the statement, the panel will meet President
Salva Kiir Mayardit and engage key stakeholders, including the Vice Presidency,
R-ARCSS institutions, Constitution-Making and Electoral bodies (NEC, NCRC,
PPC), SSPDF officers, RJMEC, CTSAMVM, IGAD, and other relevant stakeholders.
The African Union Mission in South Sudan extended invites Nicholas
Haysom, UN SRSG, to meet with the Panel to provide an opportunity to discuss the
implementation of the deal in a broader way.
“…following the postponement of the elections and extension
of the transition period, to exchange views, particularly on the current
security situation in the country, and explore ways to facilitate the
implementation of the remaining tasks of the R-ARCSS towards peaceful elections
and successful transition,” the statement partly reads.
The panel’s visit follows that of IGAD envoy and former
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who met with President Kiir and Ugandan
President Yoweri Museveni. Odinga was denied access by Kiir to meet with Machar
in his efforts to address the conflict.
Civil society activist and Executive Director of the Center
for Peace and Advocacy, Ter Manyang, who had urged President Ruto to send Raila
Odinga back to meet Machar, now calls on the AU Panel of the Wise to first
engage with religious leaders and civil society before meeting President Kiir
and Machar, to address key issues affecting the country.
“The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), an advocacy
organization, urged the African Union Panel of the Wise to meet with civil
society and religious leaders before their discussions with Kiir and Machar.
This would help ensure that they are informed about the key issues affecting
the country,” Manyang stated.
Civil society, the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD), the East African Community, the African Union, the United
Nations, and Western countries have all called for de-escalation, dialogue, and
the upholding of the peace agreement following the arrest of Machar, First Vice
President and opposition leader of the SPLM-IO.
This comes amid ongoing conflict in the Upper Nile region
between the government and the White Army, allied with Machar.
The ongoing conflict has raised concerns about the stability
of South Sudan's fragile peace process, with fears that the country may relapse
into renewed civil war.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, plunged into
conflict in 2013, just two years after gaining independence from Sudan on July
9, 2011.
Fragmented rebellions, along with ethnic and communal
violence, have since plagued the country, hindering peace efforts and stalling
economic and infrastructural development.
Fourteen years after independence, the country continues to struggle with stability, with national elections now scheduled for December 2026, provided the peace agreement holds.