President Bola Tinubu has called for the immediate and unconditional release of South Sudan’s First Vice President, Riek Machar, along with other detained opposition leaders, as part of efforts to stabilise the country and advance its peace process.
Tinubu’s position was delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan (C-5 Plus) Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the 39th AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government. The meeting was chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
At the summit, the Nigerian leader stressed the need for confidence-building measures to support the implementation of South Sudan’s revitalised peace agreement.
“We wish to specifically call on the government to consider the immediate and unconditional release from detention of the Vice President and other key opposition figures.
“It is also imperative to convene an all-inclusive South Sudan national dialogue and reconciliation forum. We call on all parties to engage constructively with authorities in the mediation process without preconditions,” Tinubu said.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s solidarity with African partners in supporting the South Sudanese people’s aspirations for stability, development and a lasting resolution to the conflict.
“We support the lofty ambition of all parties and wish to reiterate our doctrinal commitment to accompany the South Sudanese Transitional Government of Unity as well as the good people of the country to actualise their aspiration for lasting peace and development,” he added.
Tinubu emphasised that national unity and consensus among political elites remain critical to the country’s transition, urging stakeholders to prioritise inclusive, peaceful and transparent elections as a means of building public trust and confidence in future leadership.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s participation in the Regional Partnership for Democracy and warned that ongoing insecurity and political tensions could undermine key transitional reforms, including security sector restructuring and constitution drafting.
In his remarks, President Ramaphosa noted that the C-5 Plus Summit reflects the determination of African leaders to find a lasting solution to the crisis, despite delays in implementing the peace agreement eight years after its adoption.
Meanwhile, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) reaffirmed its commitment to the peace process, with its chairman and President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, proposing the appointment of a lead mediator to monitor implementation and address emerging challenges.
Separately, Tinubu announced Nigeria’s pledge to support the Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea, stating that the country would provide “office buildings, ships, helicopters, and temporary personnel” to strengthen maritime security and combat transnational organised crime in the region.
The summit brought together several African leaders and international partners, underscoring renewed continental efforts to stabilise South Sudan and sustain progress toward durable peace.
