South Sudan’s civil society has called on the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council to intensify efforts in encouraging the country’s leaders to engage in an inclusive political dialogue aimed at ending the current political deadlock.
Edmond Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), spoke to reporters following a meeting on Sunday between civil society representatives and the visiting AU delegation.
The meeting included youth leaders, women’s groups, religious leaders, and various civil society organizations.
“We urged the African Union to lobby our leaders to start an urgent and inclusive dialogue involving all signatories to the peace agreement, including the Vice President and SPLA-IO leadership,” Yakani said.
He stressed the importance of releasing political detainees to ensure meaningful participation in the dialogue.
“The release of detainees is not just a goodwill gesture, it is fundamental to allowing constructive engagement,” he added.
The civil society coalition also emphasized elections as a critical step toward peace and democracy, but Yakani warned that these elections must be preceded by political consensus.
“Elections require agreement on key issues outlined in the peace agreement and electoral law. Such consensus can only be reached through inclusive dialogue.”
In addition to political matters, the AU was urged to address humanitarian challenges facing South Sudan.
“We highlighted serious concerns about the politicization of aid and the targeting of humanitarian workers. These actions put vulnerable communities at risk and obstruct the delivery of essential services,” Yakani explained.
According to him, the meeting also touched on the escalating violence in various parts of the country.
Yakani reaffirmed the necessity for all parties to respect the 2017 ceasefire agreement and supported ongoing efforts to engage non-signatory groups through initiatives like Tumaini.
Among other recommendations, civil society called for the appointment of a former African head of state as the AU High Representative to South Sudan to help rebuild trust among leaders and guide the peace process.
They also proposed establishing an AU technical committee to assist the National Election Commission in preparing for elections planned for December 2026.
The AU Peace and Security Council is expected to share an official statement following their discussions with South Sudan’s political leadership.
Meanwhile, civil society groups are preparing their own position to present to all stakeholders as part of a homegrown effort to resolve the country’s political impasse.
