President Salva Kiir Mayardit and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa have reaffirmed the importance of peace, political dialogue and institutional development in South Sudan during high-level talks in Tshwane.
The two leaders met on Thursday at Mahlamba Ndlopfu, the South African President’s official residence, during President Kiir’s working visit to South Africa.
The meeting highlighted the longstanding relationship between Juba and Pretoria and South Africa’s continued support for South Sudan’s peace and state-building efforts.
Discussions focused on South Sudan’s political transition, preparations for the anticipated December 2026 elections, implementation of the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement and efforts to strengthen democratic institutions.
For President Kiir, the engagement provided an opportunity to brief a key regional partner on developments in South Sudan and the government’s preparations to complete the transitional programme and move towards elections.
South Africa, meanwhile, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting peace, stability and institution-building in South Sudan.
President Ramaphosa’s role carries particular regional significance. He chairs the African Union Ad Hoc High-Level Committee on South Sudan, which has remained engaged in efforts to encourage the implementation of the peace agreement and promote dialogue among South Sudan’s political stakeholders.
The Tshwane meeting therefore carried significance beyond bilateral relations. It brought together two presidents at a critical stage of South Sudan’s political transition, with both sides recognising the importance of sustained regional engagement.
South Sudan has made efforts to advance its political and electoral preparations, but the transition continues to face challenges, including unresolved political issues, security concerns and the need to strengthen national institutions.
Against this backdrop, South Africa’s approach remains focused on encouraging an inclusive and peaceful political process while respecting South Sudan’s sovereignty and national ownership of its transition.
The two countries have maintained diplomatic relations since South Sudan gained independence, and their cooperation has expanded over the years to include political consultations, economic engagement, peacebuilding and institutional development.
President Kiir’s working visit, which began on August 23 and runs through August 31, forms part of this continuing diplomatic engagement.
The significance of the latest meeting will ultimately be measured by progress on the ground. For South Sudan, credible institutions, meaningful political dialogue and a peaceful electoral process will be essential to consolidating the gains of the peace process.
As the country moves towards the anticipated 2026 elections, continued cooperation with regional partners such as South Africa will remain important.
The meeting in Tshwane thus reaffirmed a shared commitment to keeping South Sudan’s transition anchored in peace, dialogue and democratic institution-building, while strengthening the longstanding partnership between Juba and Pretoria.
