African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea Jakaya Kikwete on Monday urged South Sudan’s leaders to remain united and ensure successful elections, while calling for the structured implementation of the country’s 2018 peace agreement.
Kikwete spoke after briefing President Salva Kiir on consultations he held with political parties, electoral institutions and other stakeholders during his visit to South Sudan.
“I just came here to get an update, a debriefing on my consultations here. I’m hopeful and I encourage the people of South Sudan to be hopeful, yes, to remain united and make sure that there are successful elections, there is a structured implementation of the R-ARCSS (Revitalised Agreement), that’s the basic guide you have for the moment,” Kikwete told reporters after meeting Kiir.
“I’m encouraged here by my discussion with the President and look forward to a successful implementation of the 2018 agreement and the subsequent decisions that have been taken,” he added.
Kikwete arrived in Juba last week to assess preparations for elections and review progress in implementing the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). During the visit, he met electoral institutions, political parties, opposition groups and international partners involved in the country’s transition.
Before concluding his mission on Monday, Kikwete briefed Kiir on his findings and said he was encouraged by progress made by institutions responsible for implementing the peace agreement and preparing for the country’s long-delayed elections.
During the visit, Kikwete met officials from the National Elections Commission (NEC), the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC), the Political Parties Council (PPC), representatives of the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), diplomats and other stakeholders.
In a statement, Kiir’s office said Kikwete commended the NEC for progress in preparations for credible elections and welcomed efforts by the Political Parties Council to register political parties for participation in the democratic process.
According to the statement, the AU envoy also welcomed progress by the National Constitutional Review Commission, noting that civic education efforts had been undertaken and that work toward drafting a permanent constitution was advancing.
For his part, Kiir reaffirmed his government’s commitment to implementing the 2018 peace agreement and ensuring South Sudan remained on course toward peaceful and democratic elections.
He said preparations for inter-party dialogue on election-related issues were progressing and would provide a platform for building consensus among political stakeholders.
Kiir also highlighted progress in the security sector, including the continued integration and deployment of unified forces, which he described as critical to the peace process and national stability.
“South Sudan has overcome many challenges since independence. We have endured the conflicts of 2013 and 2016, as well as the more recent incidents in Nasir, yet our people continue to demonstrate resilience and determination,” Kiir said, according to the statement.
“We are stronger today than we were yesterday, and we must continue to persevere in our pursuit of lasting peace, stability and prosperity.”
South Sudan is preparing for its first elections since independence, but implementation of the 2018 peace agreement has been repeatedly delayed amid political tensions and slow progress on key reforms.
Kiir’s camp has insisted the vote should proceed in December, while some opposition groups, including the SPLM-IO led by detained First Vice President Riek Machar, argue that key provisions of the peace agreement remain unimplemented.
Machar, a principal signatory to the 2018 accord, is currently in detention in Juba facing treason charges.
Kikwete’s visit to Juba comes amid renewed regional and international efforts to advance implementation of the peace agreement and encourage inclusive political dialogue.
Before his visit to Juba, Kikwete held consultations in Dar es Salaam with South Sudanese opposition groups, including the United People’s Alliance (UPA), the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), the SPLM-IO faction aligned with Machar, the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) and the People’s Resistance Front (PRF).
The former Tanzanian president was appointed in March as the African Union’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, with a mandate that includes South Sudan.
The African Union’s Ad Hoc High-Level Committee on South Sudan (C5) continues to support implementation of the peace agreement and has previously called for elections, the release of political detainees, including Machar, and inclusive dialogue among signatories.
Earlier on Monday, South Sudan’s National Elections Commission set Dec. 22, 2026, as the date for the country’s long-delayed general elections, while warning of legal inconsistencies and financial constraints that could affect preparations for the vote.
NEC Chairperson Abednego Akok Kacuol said the decision was based on provisions of the National Elections Act 2012, as amended in 2023, which require the commission to announce a polling date at least six months before voting. He also acknowledged gaps and contradictions in the broader legal framework governing the electoral process.
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