Former Tanzanian President, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (Courtesy)
Nairobi, March 28, 2026
By Savanna Radio News Desk
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has appointed former Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete as a member of the C5, the regional mechanism supporting the revitalization of South Sudan’s peace process. Kikwete joins the committee at a critical moment as the country navigates delays in implementing key provisions of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
The C5 group, comprising South Africa, Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, and Rwanda, works in close coordination with IGAD and the African Union to support South Sudan’s leaders in achieving a permanent political settlement and advancing democratic transition. Kikwete’s appointment reflects a renewed continental commitment to stabilize South Sudan ahead of its anticipated elections.
Kikwete, who served as President of Tanzania from 2005 to 2015, is widely respected across Africa for his mediation experience and diplomatic leadership. He previously chaired the African Union High-Level Panel for Burundi and played a vital role in mediating political crises across the Great Lakes region.
Regional observers have welcomed the appointment, describing it as a “boost of experience and credibility” to the continent’s mediation architecture. An IGAD communiqué noted that Kikwete’s inclusion “adds strategic depth to ongoing efforts to foster consensus among South Sudan’s transitional partners.”
South Sudan continues to face challenges in implementing security arrangements, reconstituting national institutions, and creating conditions for credible elections. The involvement of senior African statesmen such as former President Kikwete is seen as key to helping South Sudan’s leaders bridge differences and consolidate peace.
Savanna Radio will provide ongoing coverage of developments surrounding the C5 and the South Sudan peace process as regional mediation intensifies in the months ahead.
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