South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir in Pretoria on Wednesday to discuss the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement and preparations for South Sudan's first elections. The meeting was an opportunity for Ramaphosa to stress the importance of adhering to the agreement, which ended the worst of the civil war in 2018. As chair of the African Union's Committee of Five on South Sudan, Ramaphosa emphasized the need for an inclusive electoral process built on trust and cooperation among South Sudanese political stakeholders.
The two leaders' discussion comes as South Sudan prepares for its first elections, scheduled for December. However, there are concerns that the country may not be ready for the polls, and that proceeding without adequate preparation could reignite conflict. Kiir's visit to Pretoria followed talks with President William Ruto in Nairobi, highlighting growing regional concern about the situation in South Sudan. The shuttle diplomacy reflects a push for a peaceful, credible, and inclusive electoral process.
The Committee of Five, which comprises South Africa, Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, and Rwanda, was established by the African Union to support South Sudan's peace process and accompany the transitional government toward credible elections. The C-5 has intensified its engagement in recent weeks, with a virtual meeting hosted by Ramaphosa and now the in-person talks in Pretoria. The message from the region is consistent: the December elections must be peaceful, credible, and inclusive.
Despite the push for a peaceful electoral process, there are significant obstacles to overcome. South Sudan has not held a national election since independence in 2011, and its first polls, scheduled for 2015, were abandoned when civil war broke out in 2013. Elections have been postponed five times since. The transitional government, established under the 2018 agreement, has been dissolved, and President Kiir has removed all five vice presidents, including his long-time rival Riek Machar.
The country also lacks a voter register, and its electoral commission is underfunded, with its leadership replaced weeks ago. More than 2.5 million people remain internally displaced, and the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan reported in September that the country lacked "many of the safeguards and conditions for peaceful and credible polls." These challenges highlight the need for urgent action to ensure a peaceful and inclusive electoral process.
Ramaphosa's message to Kiir is not an isolated appeal, but reflects a regional consensus that South Sudan's transition cannot be allowed to fail. The war that ended in 2018 killed nearly 400,000 people and destabilized the entire region. A return to conflict would be catastrophic, not just for South Sudan, but for its neighbors, who host millions of South Sudanese refugees and whose economies are intertwined with Juba's.
The African Union is engaged in a broader effort to support South Sudan's peace process, including the Panel of Facilitators. The C-5's engagement is part of this effort, aimed at ensuring that the December elections are peaceful, credible, and inclusive. The stakes are high, and the region is working to ensure that South Sudan's transition is successful and that the country can move forward in peace and stability.
Key points
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urges South Sudanese President Salva Kiir to uphold 2018 peace agreement as country prepares for first elections in December.
- The Committee of Five, comprising South Africa, Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, and Rwanda, is working to support South Sudan's peace process and accompany the transitional government toward credible elections.
- South Sudan faces significant challenges ahead of the December elections, including a lack of voter register, underfunded electoral commission, and over 2.5 million internally displaced people.
