By Lodu William Odiya
A 15-member AU delegation that engaged peace stakeholders in Juba left with a series of wishes toward the resurrection of the 2018 peace agreement.
Topping the list is a call for dialogue among peace parties; second is the need for an immediate ceasefire.
Among the key issues believed to have been handled by the AU and other peace guarantors are the arrest of Dr. Riek Machar that resulted in some opposition deserting Juba, the ongoing armed confrontations, and violation of power sharing by the majority party, and so forth.
However, the AU delegation directs the peace parties to convey inclusive dialogue to ensure that the remaining tasks in the peace agreement are implemented.
The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) 15-member delegation to Juba was led by Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Khaled, Permanent Representative of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to the AU and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council for the month of August 2025.
The delegation met members of civil society, among other groups, and President Salva Kiir.
While their coming raised hope among the citizens, their departure reaffirmed the usual demand for a home-driven solution to the ongoing conflict across the country.
In a statement to the media after concluding their interaction with various peace stakeholders, the AU delegation called for an inclusive political high-level dialogue among political leaders.
“The PSC called for an inclusive political high-level dialogue among the political leaders for an amicable resolution of the current political situation in the country,” the statement partly read.
The parties to this agreement are the Sudan People Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG), the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army–In Opposition (SPLM/A–IO), the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), Former Detainees (FDs), and Other Political Parties (OPP).
In a separate meeting with the AU delegation, Kuol Manyang, the Chairperson of the National Transitional Committee (NTC), expressed that Dr. Machar’s arrest was not political but criminal in nature.
He added that it is a normal practice that when someone is connected to a crime, they can be arrested and presented before the court.
The AU delegation who visited Juba however did not revealed their move in resolving Dr. Machar house arrest or a call for release.
In addition to this statement, the Opposition group outside the country led by Oyet Nathaniel Pierino the Acting Chairman of Sudan people Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) urged the delegation to look at critical issues such as the arrest of Dr, Machar.
The group claimed that the opposition has been locked out from several consultations related to Peace agreement.
“The SPLM/SPLA-IO would like to report to your Excellency that it has been successfully locked-out by the SPLM-IG from any consultative meeting with the AUPSC” the statement partly read.
AUPSC however expressed unwavering support towards the organizing the election schedule for 2026.
“The PSC expressed its unwavering support towards the organization of elections in December 2026, marking the end of the transition in South Sudan” statement noted
This quote left a strong call on the parties to sit down and path their way to peace and hold elections.
The statement also emphasized that President Kiir also expressed his unwavering dedication to ensuring the agreement’s full implementation and pledged to continue working closely with the African Union to secure peace and stability across the country.
The AU further noted that South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Monday Semaya Kumba, reaffirmed the President’s commitment and highlighted the importance of sustained cooperation between Juba and the AU in addressing peace and security challenges.
In March 2025, the Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) Ter Manyang Gatwech, had called on South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to prioritize dialogue over military action in resolving the current political tensions in the country.
“As a human rights activist, I urged President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar to choose dialogue and engage in face-to-face discussions rather than resorting to military solutions,” Manyang said.
“The relative peace we currently have in the country is better than nothing. South Sudan cannot afford to return to full-scale war,” he added.
Dr. Machar, President Salva Kiir’s longtime rival and leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), had been under house arrest since March 26, for alleged involvement in violence in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
The Mission was led by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Khaled, Permanent Representative of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to the AU and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council for the month of August 2025.
The PSC commended the commitment expressed for the completion of the transition process and also stressed the need to ensure the full implementation of the remaining tasks in the Revitalized Agreement.
It also reaffirmed the AU’s continued dedication to support South Sudan to end the conflict and ensure a successful completion of the transitional period.