AU and UN Missions Urge South Sudan Stakeholders to Address Unfinished Peace Tasks in 2025
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Nairobi, Dec 24 (NationPress) The African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) missions in South Sudan have urged the parties involved in the transitional unity government to focus on the execution of outstanding peace tasks outlined in the 2018 revitalised peace agreement during 2025, in preparation for the upcoming 2026 elections.
The AU Mission in South Sudan, the UN Mission in South Sudan, along with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an East African regional organization, acknowledged the advancements made by the government and stakeholders concerning the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in 2024.
The missions, in a collaborative statement released in Juba, the capital city of South Sudan, stressed that 2025 will be a crucial year to prioritize the remaining tasks necessary for the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
"We acknowledge the peace attained through the ongoing ceasefire and advocate for the swift completion of the deployment of the remaining necessary unified forces, along with broader transitional security arrangements to uphold stability," the statement declared.
The missions also expressed appreciation for the goodwill shown by South Sudanese President Salva Kiir in seeking the support of Kenyan President William Ruto regarding the stalled mediation with holdout groups, which led to the Tumaini Initiative.
"We commend President Kiir's support for the inter-party dialogue aimed at reviewing the Roadmap and establishing a refined strategy for the overall execution of the R-ARCSS. We encourage that follow-up negotiations produce productive consensus in both processes," the missions stated.
The trio also called for enhanced civic education and engagement with various stakeholders, including political parties, civil society, media, and the larger community of South Sudan, concerning the timeline and other challenges related to implementation.
"We highlight the importance of establishing clarity at the beginning of the year to facilitate realistic plans that will enable elections in December 2026," the statement concluded.
