Former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has held talks with key stakeholders in South Sudan as part of a fact-finding mission aimed at reviving the country’s stalled peace process.
J. Kikwete arrived in Juba on Wednesday, April 8, for a three-day visit after his appointment on March 24 by the African Union as High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, with a specific mandate on South Sudan.
During the visit, he met President Salva Kiir, senior government officials, political parties and allies of detained opposition leader Riek Machar, as diplomatic efforts intensify to reinvigorate the 2018 peace agreement.
Speaking after a meeting held on Thursday with officials of the SPLM-IO aligned with Machar, political bureau focal point Joseph Malwal Dong said the discussions were centred on information gathering rather than decision-making. “We met the visiting envoy because he came here on a fact-finding mission,” Malwal said. “He had not been here before and wanted to find out exactly what is going on in the country”.
He added that the peace deal remains under strain, citing “a lot of problems and violations” in its implementation. “The implementation of the agreement is strained, and there have been a lot of violations reported,” he noted.
Malwal said no concrete outcomes were reached on key issues such as elections or Machar’s detention. “There is no tangible decision in terms of elections or in terms of Machar being released soon,” he said, although the matter was raised during discussions.
J. Kikwete, addressing journalists, described the trip as exploratory. “I am talking to all the stakeholders, getting briefings on the situation in the country and advice on specific issues and needs,” he said, adding that he would report back to the African Union with recommendations.
He disclosed that President Kiir had assured him of the government’s commitment to holding long-delayed elections scheduled for December 2026. “There is determination by the government of South Sudan to make sure that the elections are held this year,” Kikwete said, stressing that there would be no extension.
The visit falls under the African Union’s C5 initiative, which in February called for steps including elections in December 2026, the release of detainees, inclusive dialogue and adherence to a ceasefire. Civil society voices have cautiously welcomed the engagement. Edmund Yakani of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization described the meetings as “a great step” towards breaking the deadlock in implementing the revitalized peace agreement, while warning against further delays.
Despite the diplomatic momentum, South Sudan’s security situation remains fragile. Continued violence, ceasefire violations and political tensions between Kiir and Machar have undermined the 2018 accord, with Machar having been under house arrest since March 2025. Kikwete is expected to conclude his visit on Friday, April 10, as the African Union weighs its next steps in steering the peace process towards stability.
