South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, head of the AU C5 Delegation, meets with President Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba to discuss the nation’s peace roadmap and upcoming elections. 📅 Thursday, January 15, 2026 📸 Photo Credit: OPPU

A prominent civil society leader has urged the African Union C5 delegation to prioritize the release of political detainees and the restoration of trust among South Sudan’s leadership.

Addressing the mission led by South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), warned that deep-seated divisions remain a critical barrier, stalling the nation’s transition from conflict to a sustainable peace.

This came following the arrival of the AU C5 delegation in Juba on Wednesday for a two-day mission to assess progress in the implementation of the peace deal.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the AU delegation is in the country to review peace efforts led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and to engage key stakeholders.

Yakani told Eye Radio that the lack of political will among South Sudan’s leaders has stalled meaningful progress, despite the signing of the 2018 peace agreement.

“Our leaders have had serious divisions in trust and confidence since the first day of the agreement,” Yakani said. “This political disturbance has limited political will and commitment to transition the country from violence to peace through the provisions of the 2018 peace agreement.”

He said the African Union must play a stronger role in restoring confidence among the principals of the parties that signed the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

“The African Union needs to take responsibility in nurturing the renewal of trust and confidence among our leaders, specifically at the level of the principals of the signatory parties,” he added.

Yakani also outlined key expectations from the AU C5 visit, including an immediate de-escalation of ongoing fighting, particularly between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the SPLA-IO.

“We want our leaders to recommit themselves to the 2017 cessation of hostilities agreement or to declare an immediate ceasefire,” he said.

He further called for the release of political detainees and the initiation of an inclusive political dialogue among the original signatories to the peace agreement.

“After the release of detainees, our leaders should immediately commission an inclusive political dialogue among the rightful signatories to the 2018 peace agreement,” Yakani said, warning against political fragmentation driven by division and control.

The AU C5’s findings from the Juba visit are expected to feed directly into the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly and a proposed C5-Plus Summit scheduled for mid-February, where South Sudan’s peace process is expected to remain a key agenda item.