Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1219th meeting held on 28 June 2024 on Consideration and Adoption of the Report of the PSC Field Mission to South Sudan, conducted from 23 to 26 June 2024.

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling its previous decisions and pronouncements on the situation in South Sudan, particularly, Communiqués [PSC/PR/COMM.1202 (2024)], adopted at our 1202nd meeting held on 27 February 2024; [PSC/PR/COMM.1186 (2023)], adopted at our 1186th meeting held on 16 November 2023; [PSC/PR/COMM.1141 (2023)], adopted at our 1141st meeting held on 28 February 2023; and [PSC/PR/COMM.1092 (2022)] adopted at our 1092nd meeting held on 11 July 2022;

Mindful of the outstanding transitional tasks and the impending end of the Transition in February 2025;

Reiterating the unwavering commitment of the AU, as a guarantor of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), signed on 12 September 2018, to support the full implementation of the Agreement;

Reaffirming the solidarity of the AU with the people and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan in their legitimate aspirations to restore durable peace, security, stability and development in their country, which will significantly benefit the African Continent as a whole;

Taking note of the presentation of the report by H.E. Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for June 2024; and

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:

1. Adopts the Report of its field mission to South Sudan, conducted from 23 to 26 June 2024;

2. Commends the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) for the efforts being deployed in implementing the R-ARCSS and for the progress achieved so far; commends in particular, H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar and the rest of the signatories of the R-ARCSS for placing the supreme interests of the country and its people above all else, for their dedication to peace, and for their commitment to prevent their country from returning to war;

3. Also commends all signatories of the R-ARCSS for choosing dialogue to address any differences they may have in the implementation of the Peace Agreement;

4. Expresses deep appreciation to the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the Troika (Norway, United States of America and United Kingdom), the IGAD Partners Forum (IPF), all international partners and the Friends of South Sudan for working with the RTGoNU and the people of South Sudan in implementing the RARCSS, including in exploring the required consensus with regard to organization of the elections planned to take place in December 2024;

5. Also expresses deep appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Kenya for hosting the ‘Tumaini Process’; encourages the parties to the Process to place the supreme interests of South Sudan above all else, in order to end the suffering of the people of South Sudan, as well as to ensure that the outcome of the Process complements the R-ARCSS; strongly encourages all hold out groups to embrace the Tumaini Process and appeals to the international community for support;

6. Commends the African Development Bank for its contribution towards enhancing the capacity of the R-TGoNU to successfully implement economic and financial reforms so as to facilitate speedy economic recovery, stabilization and development in South Sudan;

7. Also commends the AU High Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan (C5) for supporting the peace process in South Sudan;

8. Encourages the RTGoNU to allocate and provide funding for all institutions, including but not limited to the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC), and the National Elections Commission (NEC), in order to enable these institutions to more effectively execute their respective mandates; and appeals to AU Member States and members of the international community, in a position to do so, to support the efforts of the RTGoNU;

9. Also encourages the RTGoNU to finalize the training of the remaining batch of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUFs) and to deploy the remaining graduated forces under Phase 1 to protect civilians, and create a conducive environment for the successful organization of credible elections and also for socio-economic recovery, stabilization and development in the country;

10. Reiterates the appeal to the United Nations (UN) to urgently lift the arms embargo and other sanctions imposed on South Sudan, as well as the international partners to also lift all punitive measures imposed on the country, in order to facilitate the successful implementation of the outstanding aspects of the R-ARCSS;

11. Appeals to all partners to promote and facilitate humanitarian relief and support the efforts of the RTGoNU in the protection and assistance of IDPs, refugees and returnees in the country and, in this regard reiterates the need for the establishment of the Special Reconstruction Fund (SRF) and its Board to facilitate humanitarian recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts;

12. Appeals to the AU Member States, international community, and regional organizations, in a position to do so, to stand by South Sudan in the upcoming unprecedented floods which are expected to be the worst in the history of the country and calls for the provision of financial support to enable the Government address the situation;

13. Urges the R-TGoNU to find solutions to sporadic cases of intercommunal violence, and, in this context, urges the responsible authorities in all parts of the country affected by intercommunal violence to devise inclusive processes of holistically addressing the root causes, including DDR programs and stockpile management of Small Arms and Light Weapons with a view to promoting durable peace and security in these areas;

14. Reiterates the critical importance of expediting the implementation of Chapter V of the R-ARCSS which includes the establishment of the Hybrid Court of South Sudan (HCSS), with the support of the AU Commission, the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) and the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA), with a view to fighting the culture of impunity, as well as promoting lasting peace, justice and reconciliation in South Sudan in line with the AU Transitional Justice Policy, and in this context, underscores the urgent need for the passing of the CTRH and CRA bills in the RTNLA and in this regard, requests the AU Commission in coordination with the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights to provide the requisite support;

15. Emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in the South Sudan peace process, and in this respect, underscores the critical role of women and the youth, as well as civil society and faithbased organizations in all efforts aimed at promoting transitional justice and national reconciliation;

16. Emphasizes the importance of peacebuilding and the post-conflict reconstruction and development component to South Sudan and directs the AU PCRD Centre to develop programs to support South Sudan, including enhancing the national capacities of the country;

17. Directs the AU Commission to provide technical support and to coordinate the process of mobilization of resources to support the RTGoNU, particularly in preparation for the elections and, in this regard, work in a timely fashion with the Panel of the Wise (PoW), the C5, and Member States in a position to do so, to also contribute human, technical, material and financial assistance, for the constitution-making and organization of elections, including through the use of the AU Peace Fund; and further directs the AU Commission to ensure that technical assistance, including, deployment of election observers is done four months before the planned date of the elections, and requests the AU Commission to brief the PSC before, and after, the deployment of the Mission;

18. Also requests the Chairperson of the Commission to provide technical support to South Sudan with a view to addressing issues relating to Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR), as well as the collection of weapons currently in illegal hands;

19. Reiterates the need for redoubled efforts in mobilizing adequate resources to facilitate the work of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) in the effective monitoring and verification of the ceasefire and compliance with peace and security initiatives in the country;

20. Expresses gratitude to the South Sudanese authorities for the facilitation provided to the PSC Delegation during the field mission, as well as to all interlocutors, namely, the African Diplomatic Community, IGAD, R-JMEC, UNMISS, the Troika, IPF, as well as the representatives of Civil Society and faith-based organizations;

21. Also expresses particular gratitude to the AU Mission in South Sudan for facilitating the successful conduct of the field mission and commend the efforts of the Mission in effectively promoting the visibility of the AU on the ground;

22. Notes with concern the institutional capacity challenges facing the AU Mission in South Sudan (AUMISS) and requests the Chairperson of the Commission to urgently address the current staffing and funding challenges in the AUMISS; and

23. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS