South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile said on Thursday that the success of South Sudan’s fragile peace process rests squarely on the country’s leaders, warning that international partners cannot replace their responsibility.
Speaking during a question-and-answer session in the South African parliament, Mashatile said he serves as special envoy of President Cyril Ramaphosa on South Sudan, with a mandate to support the implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
“Ultimately, the peace process in South Sudan depends on the political will of its leaders,” he said. “Our role is to support them and not substitute their responsibility.”
South Africa, alongside the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), acts as a guarantor of the agreement through the C5 grouping, which also includes Algeria, Chad, Nigeria and Rwanda.
The bloc was established by the AU Peace and Security Council in December 2014 and has repeatedly called for a cessation of hostilities, the release of opposition leader Riek Machar, and inclusive political dialogue.
Mashatile said he had undertaken two working visits to Juba since assuming his role, most recently in October last year. During a 2024 visit, he met with key parties to the peace agreement, including President Salva Kiir, and held discussions alongside then foreign minister Naledi Pandor with the head of the United Nations mission in South Sudan.
He paid tribute to Nicholas Haysom, the UN chief in South Sudan and a South African national, who died in New York on Wednesday, describing him as committed to democracy and peace on the continent.
During the visit, Mashatile said the delegation held about 15 additional meetings with other stakeholders over four days in Juba and initially believed progress was being made, including prospects for democratic elections.
However, renewed violence has since highlighted the fragility of the process.
“In January this year, fighting erupted once again among the belligerent forces and intensified early this month,” he said, adding that clashes displaced large numbers of civilians in Jonglei state.
The resurgence of violence underscores the complexity of achieving peace, Mashatile said.
He noted that South Africa and its partners have stepped up diplomatic engagement this year. In January 2025, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola led a ministerial delegation of C5 countries to Juba. This was followed in February by a C5 heads of state summit in Addis Ababa, chaired by Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the African Union summit and attended by representatives of the UN Secretary-General.
The summit, he said, reiterated calls for a cessation of hostilities and for the release of Machar, who had been under house arrest and facing court proceedings during Mashatile’s last visit.
“They have also asked for the promotion of inclusive political dialogue and the creation of a conducive political and security environment necessary for the holding of elections,” he said.
Mashatile said all South Sudanese parties had previously agreed to travel to South Africa for further dialogue, an offer Pretoria intends to pursue, including engagement with President Kiir.
South Africa will also use its tenure on the AU Peace and Security Council from April 2026 to March 2028 to mobilize diplomatic, technical, and financial support for credible, free and fair elections in South Sudan, he added.
He warned that the conflict has deepened a humanitarian crisis, compounded by instability in neighbouring Sudan, and said Pretoria would engage regional actors, international partners, and humanitarian organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to coordinate a response.
Despite these efforts, Mashatile stressed that ultimate responsibility lies with South Sudan’s leadership.
“To resolve this conflict, it is incumbent upon the broad leadership of South Sudan to demonstrate the requisite political will and responsible leadership necessary to implement the agreement they have signed,” he said.
“Achieving this will require mutual trust and the promotion of political consensus.”