Mounting pressure from African leaders just shoved South Sudan’s stalled transition back into the spotlight and tied its future to a December 2026 ballot.
Summit pushes peace and December 2026 vote
Summit pushes peace and December 2026 vote
- President Cyril Ramaphosa pressed South Sudan to halt fighting and prep elections.
- Ramaphosa spoke at the AU Ad-hoc High Level Committee for South Sudan C5 Plus.
- Gathering happened during the 39th AU Assembly in Ethiopia.
- Leaders framed stability and voter choice as nonnegotiable goals.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa said the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, R-ARCSS stays the yardstick.
- C5 members include South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania.
- Delegates backed an immediate ceasefire across South Sudan.
- The committee demanded no more election postponements beyond December 2026.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa supported freeing political detainees like Riek Machar.
- Leaders pushed for broad talks that rope in every stakeholder.
- Intergovernmental Authority on Development IGAD will sync efforts with the C5.
- Three IGAD presidents will track and assist the process.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Sudan must steer its transition.
- Ramaphosa pledged regional backing without outside meddling.
- Salva Kiir signaled buy-in to the outlined roadmap.
- AU participants warned against sliding back into full-scale war.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa chairs the C5 steering these talks.
- South Africa secured a Peace and Security Council term starting 1 April 2026.
- Lesotho will join Pretoria, representing Southern Africa.
- Pretoria remains a guarantor of the South Sudan peace pact.
