President Bola Tinubu has renewed Nigeria’s call for the full and swift implementation of South Sudan’s revitalised peace agreement, urging the immediate and unconditional release of the country’s First Vice President, Riek Machar, alongside other detained opposition leaders.
The position of the Nigerian leader was conveyed by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, known as the C-5 Plus Summit.
The meeting was held in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union and was chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“We specifically call on the government to consider the immediate and unconditional release of the Vice President and other key opposition figures,” Tinubu said. “It is also imperative to convene an all-inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation forum. All parties must engage constructively in the mediation process without preconditions.”
Tinubu stressed that Nigeria stands in solidarity with other African nations in recognising the South Sudanese people’s aspirations for peace, stability, and sustainable development, noting that an end to the protracted conflict remains critical to the country’s future.
“We support the lofty ambitions of all stakeholders and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to accompany the Transitional Government of National Unity and the people of South Sudan in realising their desire for lasting peace and development,” he added.
The Nigerian president underscored the importance of national unity and elite consensus in navigating South Sudan’s fragile transitional phase, urging African leaders to prioritise inclusive, peaceful, and transparent elections as the surest path to restoring trust and confidence in governance.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s role in the newly launched Regional Partnership for Democracy and warned that persistent insecurity and political tension continue to undermine key transitional processes in South Sudan, including security sector reforms and constitution drafting.
Earlier, President Ramaphosa commended African leaders for their resolve to resolve the conflict, while acknowledging delays in implementing the revitalised peace agreement eight years after its adoption.
He described the C-5 Plus Summit as a clear demonstration of collective leadership commitment to securing a durable solution for the people of South Sudan.
Similarly, Djibouti’s President and Chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Ismail Omar Guelleh, reaffirmed the bloc’s dedication to peace efforts and proposed the appointment of a lead mediator to oversee implementation and address emerging challenges.
Other high-level participants included the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf; Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali; Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune; and representatives from Chad, Rwanda, and several other African countries.
In a related development, Nigeria pledged comprehensive infrastructural and operational support for the Combined Maritime Task Force operating in the Gulf of Guinea.
Tinubu said Nigeria would provide office facilities, vessels, helicopters, and personnel to strengthen the force’s capacity to combat transnational organised crime and enhance maritime security across the region.
