By Kei Emmanuel Duku
The African Union has put South Sudan’s political class on test, declaring that the time for delay is over and a democratic transition must be delivered by December 2026.
In a high-stakes communiqué from its 1326th meeting, the AU Peace and Security Council warned that there is no military solution to the nation’s crises and that the current peace agreement remains the only path to survival.
With the transitional period set to expire in February 2027, the Council is demanding an immediate end to political foot-dragging to satisfy the South Sudanese people’s hunger for a permanent government.
“The December 2026 deadline is not a suggestion; it is a final call for Juba to choose the ballot box over the battlefield before the peace process collapses entirely.”
To meet this looming deadline, the AU is calling for an urgent reconstitution of the Transitional Government of National Unity to speed up the work that has stalled for years. Leaders must now prioritize the supreme interests of their citizens by taking a people-centered approach and abandoning the ideology of hate that has fueled past divisions.
The Council insists that the government must immediately provide the funds and logistical support needed for the National Elections Commission to function, alongside completing the national census and a permanent constitution.
“A nation cannot vote in a vacuum; without a census, a constitution, and a unified army, an election is merely a shadow. The government must fund the future it promised.”
The urgency for elections is underscored by a deteriorating humanitarian and security landscape that the AU says can no longer be ignored. The Council expressed deep concern over ongoing ceasefire violations, including aerial bombardments and clashes that continue to displace thousands.
This violence, combined with a flood of refugees from Sudan and the adverse effects of climate change, has created a breaking point.
In a direct warning to those in power, the AU demanded that belligerents guarantee total access for aid agencies and warned that those behind sexual violence and extra-judicial killings will be held accountable for their heinous acts.
To ensure the roadmap stays on track, the AU is pushing for the urgent appointment of a High Representative for South Sudan and the long-delayed establishment of the Hybrid Court to prosecute war crimes.
“Justice and peace are the twin engines of any credible election. You cannot ask a traumatized population to vote while the perpetrators of atrocities remain untouched by the law.”
As the clock winds down, the international community is ramping up its pressure, with the AU Commission directed to provide technical help for security sector reform and the unification of forces.
The Council also highlighted that for the 2026 vote to be genuine, it must include the meaningful participation of women and youth at every level.
By remaining actively seized of the matter, the African Union has signaled that it will no longer accept the slow pace of implementation as South Sudan approaches its most critical crossroads since independence.