President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the swift implementation of the revitalised peace agreement in South Sudan, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the country’s First Vice President, Riek Machar, alongside other detained opposition figures.
Tinubu’s position was conveyed by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, also known as the C-5 Plus Summit.
The meeting was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union and was chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Speaking at the summit, Tinubu urged South Sudanese authorities to free detained opposition leaders and prioritise national reconciliation.
“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,” he said.
He emphasised that Nigeria stood with other African nations in recognising the South Sudanese people’s desire for peace, sustainable development, and a speedy resolution of 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,” Tinubu added.
The President stressed that national unity and elite consensus were critical to progress during the country’s transitional phase, urging African leaders to prioritise inclusive, peaceful, and transparent elections.
He described credible elections as “the only way to build trust and confidence in the country’s future and leadership.”
Tinubu also highlighted Nigeria’s participation in the recently launched regional partnership for democracy and warned that insecurity and political tension were hampering South Sudan’s transitional processes, including security sector reforms and constitution drafting.
In his opening remarks, Ramaphosa praised African leaders’ determination to resolve the conflict and acknowledged delays in implementing the revitalised peace agreement, eight years after its adoption.
He described the C-5 Plus Summit as “a demonstration of the commitment of leaders to finding a lasting solution in the interest of the people of South Sudan.”
Similarly, Djibouti’s President and chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Ismail Omar Guelleh, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to peace and proposed appointing a lead mediator to oversee implementation and address emerging challenges.
Other prominent participants included the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf; Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed; Algeria’s President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune; and representatives from Chad, Rwanda, and other countries.
In a related development, Nigeria pledged full infrastructural and operational backing for the Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea.
Tinubu said the country would provide “office buildings, ships, helicopters, and temporary personnel to ensure the Force remains effective in combating transnational organised crimes and enhancing maritime security across the region.”
