South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile arrived in Juba on Wednesday morning for a two-day visit aimed at reinvigorating the implementation of the fragile 2018 peace agreement in South Sudan.
The implementation of the 2018 peace agreement faces challenges, complicated by the legal and political status of key partner Riek Machar.
Machar was arrested in March, later suspended from his position as First Vice President, and is now facing proceedings in a special court in Juba. He is accused of having a role in violence that occurred in Nasir in March 2025.
Mashatile, serving as a special envoy, is scheduled to meet with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and other key signatories to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The talks are intended to assess progress on the deal, which has been repeatedly delayed, and to push for lasting peace and stability ahead of scheduled elections.
“We have returned to this great city of Juba… to once again consult with the relevant parties… to track progress achieved in implementation of the provisions and commitments expressed in the agreement,” Mashatile said upon arrival.
He identified the drafting of a new constitution, finalizing transitional security arrangements, and preparing for elections currently scheduled for December 2026 as “among the important elements of our focus.”
The peace agreement, signed in September 2018, ended a five-year civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people. However, the formation of a unity government and the implementation of critical provisions, such as merging rival military forces and establishing a unified national army, have consistently fallen behind schedule.
Mashatile was received at the airport by South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Monday Semaya Kumba, and other senior diplomats from both nations.
South Africa, as a key regional partner, has been actively involved in mediation efforts in South Sudan.