In a significant diplomatic push to revive momentum in South Sudan’s peace process, former Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has wrapped up a two-day high-level mission to Juba, engaging key political and international actors in efforts to stabilize the country.
Kikwete, now serving as High Representative of the African Union Chairperson to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, met with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and other senior officials to assess progress and challenges in implementing the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
At the State House, President Salva Kiir reassured the envoy that the peace agreement remains on track. He outlined ongoing government efforts to advance reforms under the agreement and highlighted the national dialogue initiative as a cornerstone for rebuilding unity and trust among South Sudanese.
The envoy met with political parties in South Sudan, civil societies, academia, key international and regional stakeholders, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, as well as representatives of the European Union and the Troika nations. Among notable figures was Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior. The government used the occasion to express gratitude for continued AU support while calling on the international community to allow space for homegrown solutions to take root.
Kikwete’s return to the South Sudan peace process carries historical weight. In 2015, he played a pivotal role in intermediary intra-party dialogue that led to the Arusha Agreement, a foundation for subsequent peace efforts.
As South Sudan edges toward a critical electoral milestone, Kikwete’s mission signals renewed continental commitment to steering the country away from instability and toward sustainable peace and development.
