President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the full implementation of South Sudan’s revitalised peace agreement, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of First Vice President Riek Machar and other detained opposition leaders.
Tinubu’s message was delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, known as the C-5 Plus Summit. The meeting took place in Addis Ababa on the margins of the 39th AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and was chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In his remarks, Tinubu urged South Sudanese authorities to release Machar and other key opposition figures without conditions. He also emphasised the need to convene an inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation forum, encouraging all stakeholders to participate constructively in mediation efforts.
He reiterated Nigeria’s solidarity with the people of South Sudan in their pursuit of peace, sustainable development, and a lasting resolution of the conflict. Tinubu pledged Nigeria’s continued support for the Transitional Government of National Unity and its efforts to achieve stability and progress.
The Nigerian leader underscored the importance of national cohesion and elite consensus during the transitional period, calling on African leaders to prioritise inclusive, peaceful, and transparent elections as a pathway to restoring public trust. He also noted Nigeria’s participation in the Regional Partnership for Democracy and warned that persistent insecurity and political tensions are hindering key reforms, including security sector restructuring and constitutional development.
In his opening address, Ramaphosa observed that implementation of the revitalised agreement has progressed slowly eight years after its adoption, describing the summit as a demonstration of African leaders’ resolve to secure lasting peace for South Sudan.
Djibouti’s President and IGAD Chair, Ismail Omar Guelleh, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to advancing peace efforts and proposed appointing a lead mediator to coordinate implementation and address emerging challenges.
Other participants included AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and representatives from Chad, Rwanda, and other African nations.
Separately, Nigeria pledged full infrastructural and operational backing for the Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea. Tinubu said Nigeria would provide office facilities, vessels, helicopters, and temporary personnel to strengthen efforts against transnational organised crime and enhance maritime security across the region.
