ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The African Union (AU) has dispatched a high-level delegation from its Panel of the Wise to Juba, South Sudan, in a renewed push to address the country’s deepening political instability and ongoing violence.
In a statement issued Monday, the AU Commission said the delegation would engage with all stakeholders to strengthen mediation efforts and support the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The 2018 peace deal, signed to end years of brutal civil war, remains fragile, with recent clashes threatening to derail South Sudan’s transition to lasting peace and democracy.
“The AU calls on all parties to uphold all the provisions of the R-ARCSS,” the statement read, emphasizing the continental body’s commitment to working with regional and international partners—including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the East African Community (EAC), and the United Nations—to stabilize the country.
AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf held direct talks with President Salva Kiir, addressing the escalating political tensions and the deadly violence in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, where dozens have been killed since clashes erupted in January between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and opposition fighters.
The conflict has also seen the detention of several high-profile figures, including First Vice President Riek Machar.
South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has struggled with persistent political turmoil. The 2013-2018 civil war claimed nearly 400,000 lives and left millions displaced.
Despite the peace deal, tensions between Kiir and Machar—longtime political rivals—continue to threaten the country’s stability.
The recent outbreak of violence and political friction has heightened concerns among both South Sudanese citizens and the international community.
Observers fear that without decisive intervention, the country could slide back into widespread conflict.
