JUBA — The African Union Commission on Monday expressed solidarity with the people of South Sudan, reaffirming commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and lasting peace.
In a statement released by AUC chairperson Mahmoud Youssouf, the commission expressed this concern after talking to President Salva Kiir on the evolving political situation in the country.
“Expressing solidarity with the government and people of South Sudan, the chairperson reaffirmed the AU’s unwavering commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and lasting peace,” Youssouf said.
He said the commission has deployed a panel of wise people for mediation following the arrest of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
“To enhance mediation efforts and support the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the Chairperson is dispatching a high-level delegation of the AU Panel of the Wise to Juba to engage with all the stakeholders to de-escalate tensions and promote dialogue.”
The commission called on all parties to uphold all the provisions of the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and ensure its full implementation.
AU has further promised to engage with regional and international partners, including IGAD, the EAC, and the United Nations, to support South Sudan’s transition to durable peace and democracy.
On March 26, 2025, an armed convoy led by top security officials, including the defense minister, entered Machar’s residence in the capital, Juba, and disarmed his bodyguards, said the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM/IO).
The arrest of Machar escalated political tensions, raising fears of a return to civil war.
