By William Madouk
African leaders, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, have issued a strong call for the immediate and unconditional release of South Sudan’s First Vice President, Riek Machar, describing it as a crucial step to rescuing the country’s fragile peace process.
Delivering the message on Tinubu’s behalf, Vice President Kashim Shettima spoke at the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, also known as the C-5 Plus Summit, held alongside the AU’s 39th Assembly in Addis Ababa.
“We specifically call on the government to consider the immediate and unconditional release from detention of the Vice President and other key opposition figures,” Tinubu declared, urging South Sudanese leaders to return to dialogue rather than confrontation.
He stressed that an all-inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation forum was now unavoidable.
Tinubu warned that time was running out. “We cannot allow South Sudan to continue on its current trajectory,” he said, noting that without national unity and elite consensus, the country’s transition programme risks collapse.
Nigeria, he added, remains firmly committed to supporting the full implementation of the revitalised peace agreement.
The Nigerian leader also challenged African leaders to press for inclusive, peaceful, and transparent elections, saying credible polls are the only way to rebuild public trust and secure South Sudan’s future.
He linked Nigeria’s newly launched Regional Partnership for Democracy to broader efforts aimed at stabilising South Sudan and the region.
Chairing the summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa voiced frustration over the slow pace of peace implementation, eight years after the agreement was signed.
He praised African leaders and international partners for staying engaged but cautioned that delays were eroding hope on the ground.
From the regional bloc, Ismail Guelleh, chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, said sustained cooperation had helped preserve the longest ceasefire since the conflict began.
He proposed appointing a lead mediator to closely track progress and confront emerging obstacles.
The high-stakes meeting drew senior African leaders and envoys, all echoing a shared message: without compromise, dialogue and political courage, South Sudan’s promise of peace may once again slip out of reach.
Similarly, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who chaired the summit, called for the “release of political detainees” to be a critical step toward creating a conducive environment for the vote.
“There should be a release of political detainees, and this should also include people like the Vice President, Riek Machar, who is going through various processes of a legal nature,” Ramaphosa said in his closing remarks.
He acknowledged that progress in implementing the Revitalised Peace Agreement has been slow eight years after its signing, stressing that guarantors of the agreement have a responsibility to support South Sudan, the youngest member of the African Union.
Mr. Ramaphosa described 2026 as a decisive year for South Sudan, welcoming the government’s stated intention to hold elections and convene a national dialogue to resolve outstanding issues.
“The people of South Sudan yearn for peace and prosperity,” he said. “But elections alone will not guarantee lasting peace.”
He warned that violence or insecurity at any stage could undermine the electoral process and called for a conducive political and security environment.
On the other hand, President Salva Kiir Mayardit assured African leaders that his government is ready for inclusive political dialogue as South Sudan approaches national elections expected in December.
President Kiir committed during a high-level C5 Plus meeting that brought together African heads of state and key international partners to assess South Sudan’s political and security situation ahead of the polls.
According to the Presidential Press Unit, the President emphasized that dialogue remains the surest path to peace, unity, and credible elections.
“The President reaffirmed that the government is open to dialogue with all political actors in the interest of peace and national stability,” the Presidential Press Unit said, adding that elections should unite South Sudanese rather than divide them.
The meeting was attended by leaders and representatives from Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda, Djibouti, and Kenya, as well as regional and international bodies, including IGAD and the United Nations.