Former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete held talks with South Sudanese stakeholders on Wednesday during a three-day visit aimed at advancing implementation of African Union C5 resolutions, participants and officials said.
Kikwete, who served as Tanzania’s fourth president from 2005 to 2015, arrived in Juba earlier in the day. He was appointed on March 24, 2026, by the African Union chairperson as High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, with a special mandate on South Sudan.
His visit falls under a mandate from the African Union’s Ad Hoc High Level Committee on South Sudan, known as the C5, which is tasked with supporting implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
Meeting with SPLM officials
On his first day in Juba, Kikwete met cabinet ministers, officials from the ruling SPLM party, civil society representatives, faith based groups and academics.
Multiple sources who took part in the meetings said discussions focused on implementing C5 resolutions, including a roadmap for general elections, the release of detainees, particularly suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, inclusive dialogue and a ceasefire.
“The envoy listened to the positions of stakeholders and is scheduled to meet President Salva Kiir on Thursday, as addressing most of the C5 resolutions depends on the president, especially the release of Dr Riek,” one participant said.
During a meeting with SPLM officials led by Secretary General Akol Paul Kordit, the ruling party said it remained committed to peace, unity and full implementation of existing agreements, adding that strengthening national cohesion and sustaining dialogue were central to consolidating gains made so far.
Kordit said preparations for elections scheduled for December 2026 were progressing, with legal and institutional frameworks in place, describing the vote as a key step toward deepening democracy and long term stability.
He also reiterated the SPLM’s openness to inclusive engagement with stakeholders, saying collective efforts were needed to advance reconciliation, national unity and a shared vision for the country’s future.
Kikwete welcomed what he described as progress and urged continued efforts toward credible and inclusive elections, reaffirming the African Union’s readiness to support South Sudan’s transition toward sustainable peace and development.
Civil society impression
Edmund Yakani, executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), described Wednesday’s meeting between stakeholders and AU envoy Jakaya Kikwete as “promising and encouraging” for efforts to renew political commitment to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“It is clear that H.E. Kikwete wants to see genuine and timely implementation of the endorsed resolutions of the C5 Plus,” Yakani told Radio Tamazuj.
Yakani said the discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration among diverse actors to advance the peace process. “Our shared goal is to ensure accountability and to move the country closer to credible elections,” he said.
Civil society position
In addition to meeting SPLM officials, Kikwete held talks with South Sudanese civil society organisations on Wednesday, which submitted a position paper outlining proposals to accelerate implementation of the peace process ahead of planned elections in December 2026.
The groups said their recommendations build on outcomes of the African Union “C5 Plus” summit held on Feb. 15, 2026, and are aimed at addressing persistent delays in implementing the 2018 peace deal.
In a submission dated April 8 and presented in Juba, the organisations proposed a three pillar framework focused on enforcement, transparency and public engagement. They called for a non-compliance mechanism to define “diplomatic consequences” for parties delaying implementation, including African Union led audits where monitoring bodies such as the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission report political interference.
The groups also urged the creation of a joint African Union and South Sudan Women Mediators peace fund to manage donor contributions transparently, saying a lack of funding is often cited by political actors as a reason for slow progress. To improve accountability, they recommended translating key peace documents and the African Union roadmap into major local languages to broaden public understanding of the transition.
Civil society groups said a lack of trust among signatories, unilateral decision making, continued ceasefire violations and limited funding have slowed progress in the peace process. They also cited weak political accountability and restrictions on monitoring mechanisms as key obstacles.
The groups urged Kikwete’s office to promote consensus based decision making among South Sudan’s leaders, particularly at the presidency level, and to support regular civil society reporting on the transition. They also called for structured dialogue between civil society and African Union officials, safeguards to ensure monitoring bodies operate without political interference and sustained efforts to build trust among political leaders.
They said continued engagement between civil society, regional actors and international partners would be critical to ensuring credible elections and a peaceful transition.
Kikwete is scheduled to meet Kiir on Thursday, as well as diplomats and political parties.
South Sudan’s security situation remains fragile despite a 2018 peace agreement signed by Kiir and Machar, who was placed under house arrest in March 2025 and suspended as first vice president.
The agreement and the transitional government have been weakened by continued violence, ceasefire violations and disputes between Kiir and Machar.
The country’s first general elections have been postponed several times due to a lack of conditions for credible polls and logistical challenges. The parties last year agreed to hold elections in December 2026.
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