AU C5 tells Juba: act now for peace and credible 2026 elections

South Africa President Ramaphosa (File:SABC)

Addis Ababa, February 21, 2026

Savanna Radio News Desk

The African Union High‑Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, known as the C5, has issued a hard‑hitting declaration urging South Sudan’s leaders to take urgent steps to rescue the fragile peace process and prepare the country for credible elections in December 2026. Meeting on 15 February 2026 in Addis Ababa on the margins of the 39th AU Summit, the C5 warned that slow implementation of the 2018 peace deal and rising tensions are putting South Sudan’s transition at serious risk.

The summit, chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, brought together leaders and representatives from Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa, as well as South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, IGAD, the East African Community, and the United Nations. It was the first time since 2018 that the C5 met at heads‑of‑state level, underscoring growing concern over the slow pace of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R‑ARCSS).

President Ramaphosa described 2026 as a “pivotal” year for South Sudan and stressed that elections alone will not guarantee lasting peace unless they are preceded by a conducive political and security environment and inclusive national dialogue. The AU Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, reaffirmed that the Revitalised Agreement remains the cornerstone for stability in South Sudan and called for its full and faithful implementation.

Key demands of the C5 Declaration

In its final declaration, the C5:

• Expressed “deep concern” over what it called a deteriorating political and security situation in South Sudan, warning that escalating tensions could undermine the 2018 peace deal.

• Called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and cessation of hostilities as a step towards a permanent ceasefire, and urged all parties to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access.

• Urged the transitional government to speed up unification of forces, constitutional and legal reforms, and institution‑building needed to hold free, fair and credible elections by December 2026, with no further extensions to the transition beyond February 2027.

• Tasked the AU Commission to work with South Sudanese institutions to develop a clear electoral roadmap and mobilise technical and financial support for inclusive polls.

The committee also backed the appointment of a former African head of state as a special mediator between the signatories of the peace deal, including direct facilitation between President Kiir and First Vice President Dr Riek Machar.A joint oversight mechanism involving the C5 and IGAD is proposed to track progress and report back to African leaders on implementation.

Spotlight on detainees and political space

One of the most politically sensitive points in the declaration is the call on Juba to consider releasing all political detainees, “especially Machar,” as a  confidence‑building measure ahead of elections. The C5 said such steps are needed to restore trust, open political space and lay the groundwork for a genuinely inclusive electoral process. The declaration further emphasises that national dialogue and legal processes must bring together all signatories and stakeholders to the peace agreement so that decisions enjoy broad ownership, credibility and legitimacy.It underlines that the choices made in the coming months will determine whether South Sudan moves towards durable peace or slips back into cycles of instability.

Civil society welcomes move, warns on political will

South Sudanese civil society voices have broadly welcomed the C5’s tough message but warn that everything depends on the political will of the country’s leaders. Edmund Yakani of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said the declaration largely meets civil society expectations, but cautioned that spoilers could again delay or dilute reforms as seen with past commitments under the peace deal. Yakani stressed that “the ball is in the court of the government and the leadership of the RTGoNU” to demonstrate genuine compliance with the C5’s demands. International partners and donors are also being urged to step up humanitarian and financial assistance as insecurity and economic pressures deepen the suffering of ordinary citizens.

What the declaration means for ordinary South Sudanese

For citizens inside South Sudan and in the diaspora, the Addis Ababa declaration sends a clear continental signal that the African Union, IGAD, regional blocs and the UN expect concrete action, not new promises.If implemented, the measures could open political space, strengthen institutions and create better conditions for peaceful, credible elections in December 2026; if ignored, they risk further isolation of South Sudan’s leaders and renewed instability.

Savanna Radio will continue to follow reactions from Juba, the states and the region as South Sudanese leaders respond to the C5 declaration and the mounting pressure to deliver on the peace agreement.