Former Tanzanian President and African Union High Representative, Jakaya Kikwete, held extensive talks in Juba on Wednesday, April 8 as part of a three-day mission to advance the implementation of African Union C5 resolutions on South Sudan.
Appointed on March 24, 2026 by the AU Chairperson, his mandate focuses on supporting the peace process and transition in South Sudan.
On arrival earlier on Wednesday, Kikwete engaged a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including government officials, members of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, civil society groups, faith leaders and academics. Discussions centred on key elements of the 2018 peace agreement, including election preparations, ceasefire enforcement, inclusive dialogue and the release of political detainees.
Stakeholders indicated that progress on core issues—particularly the fate of suspended First Vice President Dr Riek Machar—would depend significantly on engagement with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, whom Kikwete is scheduled to meet on Thursday.
The SPLM reaffirmed its commitment to peace and national unity, noting that preparations for the December 2026 elections were underway, with legal and institutional frameworks in place. Kikwete, in turn, welcomed the progress and emphasized the importance of credible, inclusive polls, reaffirming the AU’s support for South Sudan’s transition.
Civil society actors described the engagements as “promising and encouraging,” highlighting renewed political commitment to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). They submitted proposals advocating stronger enforcement mechanisms, greater transparency and enhanced public participation, including a call for diplomatic consequences in cases of non-compliance and improved oversight of monitoring bodies. They also recommended the establishment of a peace fund and broader dissemination of peace agreements in local languages to strengthen public awareness and accountability.
Despite these efforts, concerns remain over slow implementation, funding constraints, trust deficits among parties, and continued ceasefire violations. South Sudan’s electoral timeline has repeatedly shifted, with parties now targeting December 2026 for long-delayed general elections.
Kikwete is expected to continue high-level engagements, including meetings with President Kiir, diplomats and political actors, as part of ongoing efforts to consolidate peace and stability in the country.
The former Tanzanian President was appointed by the AU on March 24 as its High Representative for South Sudan, signalling renewed diplomatic momentum to stabilize the country’s fragile political transition.
