Africa Union urged to engage further in South Sudan political crisis
The African Union (AU) has been requested to enhance engagement to combat the political crisis in South Sudan, as reported by The North Africa Post. This has been urged by the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), whose Chief of Staff Ambassador Berhanu Kebede spoke about the matter on August 11th.Â
During a visit by a high-level AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) delegation in Juba, Kebede urged the AU to act. He advocated for a push for more communication, the facilitation of de-escalation, and the reinforcement and observance of the Permanent Ceasefire. These prompts for the AU to take measures come amid increasing tensions between rival factions.Â
Kebede has warned the AU of the consequences of the omission to act, speaking of the unresolved provisions from a peace deal in 2018. This included the unification of armed forces, constitutional drafting, and election preparations. Kebede argued that the unresolved provisions could risk undermining the credibility of elections set for December 2026. These were originally set to be held in February 2023, but were postponed until December 2024, and currently, December 2026. This has led to the current political crisis. These elections have reportedly been delayed by Sudan’s People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition President Salva Kiir.
Kebede has stated that “the long-suffering people of South Sudan yearn for lasting peace and security.” He has stressed the need for funding key bodies, including the National Constitutional Review Commission and the National Elections Commission, in order to propel momentum toward democratic governance.
The AU has played a role in administering peace talks in South Sudan. The tensions between rival factions have led to severe consequences, such as the house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar on March 28th. Following this, delegations from the AU arrived in Juba and demanded the release of Machar, causing further internal rifts between Machar and SPLM-IO President Kiir. Both men are long-time adversaries, which has contributed to the crisis.
The North Africa Post, Maghrebi.org
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