The African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) delegation has arrived in Juba for high-level consultations on South Sudan’s peace process and preparations for the December 2026 general elections.
The delegation, led by Ambassador Hirut Zemene Kassa,
Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the
African Union and UNECA, was received on Thursday by Ambassador Kureng Akuei
Pac, Director General for Multilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation.
According to the African Union, the mission is part of
ongoing engagements to assess the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace
Agreement and to discuss the prevailing security and political situation in the
country ahead of the planned elections.
The AU PSC delegation is expected to be in South Sudan from
April 23 to 25, 2026, during which it will hold meetings with President Salva
Kiir, the Vice Presidency, and other key stakeholders.
The consultations will also involve institutions established
under the peace agreement, including the United Nations Mission in South Sudan
(UNMISS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the
Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC). Civil society
representatives are also expected to be engaged to provide perspectives on the
status of the transitional process.
The African Union says the mission will help inform “the
next steps required to effectively support the Government and people of South
Sudan to successfully complete the outstanding transition.”
The visit comes at a time when South Sudan is preparing for
its first general elections scheduled for December 2026, amid ongoing concerns
over delays in the implementation of key provisions of the peace agreement,
including security arrangements and institutional reforms.
Civil society actors have welcomed the AU engagement but
continue to call for concrete outcomes, including progress on political
detainees, sustained ceasefire implementation, and inclusive dialogue among
signatory parties.
South Sudan remains in a fragile transition following years
of conflict, with repeated delays in fully implementing the peace deal despite
ongoing regional and international support efforts.
