AU, IGAD step up efforts to revive South Sudan's stalled peace process

South Sudan President Salva Kiir held talks with African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and representatives from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Monday, in a renewed attempt to breathe life into the Revitalised Peace Agreement.

The high-level visit to Juba came amid mounting tensions and stalled progress in the implementation of the 2018 accord.

The South Sudanese presidency said discussions focused on "accelerating the implementation process," strengthening regional security, and nudging the country towards democratic governance.

Minister of Presidential Affairs Chol Mawut Ajongo described the visit as timely, adding it would deepen diplomatic engagement and provide the regional bloc and the AU with "firsthand insight" into South Sudan's precarious political climate.

For his part, Chairperson Mahmoud described the visit as "one of solidarity," urging South Sudan's political elites to "work together to complete the transitional roadmap and lead the country to democratic elections."

Past visits by international bodies have yielded lofty communiqués but little meaningful traction, especially on core issues like disarmament, power-sharing, and the conduct of free and fair elections.

Significantly, it remains unclear whether the delegation was permitted access to First Vice President Riek Machar, currently under house arrest.

Previous missions have all been denied access—a silent indictment of the peace deal's collapsing legitimacy and the shrinking political space in South Sudan.

In a carefully worded Facebook statement, Kiir's office said the AU and IGAD's presence "demonstrates the determination of the continental and regional institutions to ensure South Sudan realises peace, stability, and democracy."

Yet on the ground, violence in the Upper Nile state and beyond continues unchecked.

For the AU and IGAD, South Sudan has become a litmus test for their credibility in conflict resolution, with the latest round of shuttle diplomacy offering a flicker of hope for a lasting solution in the volatile country.

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• IGAD step up efforts to revive South Sudan's stalled peace process