Tinubu Calls For Machar’s Release, Pushes For Rapid Peace In South Sudan

According to Ireporter Online, President Bola Tinubu has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the prompt execution of the revitalised peace agreement in South Sudan, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of First Vice President Riek Machar and other detained opposition leaders.

Vice President Kashim Shettima conveyed Tinubu’s position at the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, known as the C-5 Plus Summit, held on the sidelines of the 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit was chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Speaking at the event, Tinubu urged South Sudanese authorities to prioritise national reconciliation and release detained opposition figures without delay. “It is imperative to convene an all-inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation forum. We call on all parties to engage constructively in the mediation process without preconditions,” he said.

Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s support alongside other African nations for South Sudan’s pursuit of peace, sustainable development, and the swift resolution of the ongoing conflict. He emphasised that national unity and elite consensus were critical during the transitional phase and stressed that credible elections were essential for building public trust and confidence in the country’s future leadership.

The Nigerian leader also warned that insecurity and political tensions were slowing down South Sudan’s transitional processes, including security sector reforms and the drafting of a new constitution.

President Ramaphosa praised the commitment of African leaders to resolving the conflict and acknowledged delays in implementing the revitalised peace agreement, eight years after its adoption. Djibouti’s President and chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Ismail Omar Guelleh, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to peace and suggested appointing a lead mediator to oversee the agreement’s execution and address emerging challenges.

Other notable participants included AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and representatives from Chad, Rwanda, and other African nations.

In a related announcement, Nigeria pledged full infrastructural and operational support for the Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea, providing office facilities, ships, helicopters, and temporary personnel to strengthen regional maritime security and combat transnational organized crimes.