President Salva Kiir has returned to Juba on Sunday after a week-long working visit to South Africa, where he held talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa on South Sudan’s preparations for the December 2026 general elections, implementation of the peace agreement and strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Kiir travelled to South Africa on August 23rd for engagements with the South African leadership as the country enters a critical phase of its political transition.
The visit came ahead of renewed African Union engagement on South Sudan, with Ramaphosa playing a central role as chair of the AU High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, commonly known as the C5.
During their meeting in Tshwane, Kiir and Ramaphosa discussed South Sudan’s political transition, the implementation of the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement and preparations for the December 22 elections.
The discussions also covered the need to strengthen democratic institutions and create conditions for a peaceful and credible electoral process.
Kiir briefed Ramaphosa on the progress made by South Sudan’s electoral institutions, the outstanding tasks and measures required to ensure that the elections are peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive.
South Africa reaffirmed its support for peace, stability, political dialogue and institution-building in South Sudan.
Ramaphosa chairs the AU C5, which has been engaging South Sudanese leaders and institutions on the political transition, peace agreement implementation and preparations for the elections.
A C5 delegation led by South Africa’s International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola visited Juba in July to assess progress and engage government officials, the National Elections Commission, the Political Parties Council and civil society representatives.
The C5’s engagement has gained added importance as South Sudan moves closer to the December polls amid concerns over unresolved political, security and institutional issues.
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) has warned that several critical conditions for credible and inclusive elections remain uncertain, including political consensus, security, civic and political space, resources for electoral institutions and the completion of key provisions of the peace agreement.
South Africa has also stressed the importance of an inclusive electoral process and a security environment that allows citizens to participate freely.
The South African presidency previously said the country considers it vital that South Sudan’s elections be inclusive, transparent and fair, while stressing that the security environment must be conducive to free and fair elections.
Beyond the elections, the duo further discussed broader bilateral relations, including economic cooperation, institutional development and capacity building.
South Africa has maintained a longstanding role in South Sudan’s peace and state-building efforts, including support for political dialogue, national reconciliation and the implementation of the peace process.
The visit also comes as regional and continental actors intensify efforts to keep South Sudan’s transition on track.
The AU C5, alongside IGAD and other partners, has continued to push for implementation of the peace agreement and an inclusive political process as the December election date approaches.
South Sudan’s National Elections Commission has set December 22, 2026, as the date for the general elections.
However, preparations remain under pressure from political tensions, insecurity in parts of the country, delays in implementing key provisions of the peace agreement and limited resources.
Peace monitors said urgent action is needed to build political consensus and address outstanding legal, security and logistical requirements before the polls.