Ramaphosa Urges South Sudan to Free Political Prisoners

(JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN) – African Union leaders have called for the release of all persons held on political grounds in South Sudan, an end to hostilities, and the adoption of a consensual electoral roadmap ahead of the country’s first general elections.

The call came during a virtual Summit of the AU Committee on South Sudan (C5) Plus, chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

President Ramaphosa apologised for postponing the meeting originally set for 16th September, explaining he had been unwell and advised by doctors to rest.

After welcoming AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and other dignitaries, Ramaphosa praised the country’s leadership for its commitment to peace. He stressed that AU member states had a shared responsibility to support the nation.

Addressing the newly appointed AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Ramaphosa said: “We wish you well as you deploy your extensive expertise and considerable energies to assisting the government and the people of South Sudan.”

Kikwete was appointed to the role in March 2026 to support AU efforts in addressing political, peace and security challenges across the region, including advancing preventive diplomacy and facilitating inclusive political dialogue .

Ramaphosa noted that since the first C5 Plus Summit earlier this year, support for the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) had grown across the continent. He described the agreement as the only internationally recognised framework for the country’s transition.

He pointed to a volatile political landscape, citing recent developments including the dissolution of the Transitional Government on 22nd September 2026, amendments to the National Elections Act of 2012, and the start of the Inter-Party Political Dialogue on 24th September .

Acknowledging that these moves came as the nation prepared for its first post-independence elections later this year, Ramaphosa said voting alone could not secure the nation’s future. “We know that elections on their own are not a sufficient guarantor of peace and democracy,” he said.

He stressed that credible polls required a foundation of stability. Holding them “must be preceded and accompanied by a genuine, inclusive political process, bolstered by security arrangements and protection of electoral staff and civilians”.

He added: “There must be a clear legal framework, adequate financing, and capable institutional and operational capacity.” He urged leaders to “seize this moment to come together despite their differences to discuss the problems and challenges that stand in the way of their advancement as a nation”.

Ramaphosa confirmed that the summit produced a Declaration with strict recommendations. These followed briefings from Kiir, the AU, Kikwete, and former Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, who led the AU’s pre-election and needs assessment mission in Juba in August.

Ramaphosa said the foundational document for the country’s transition remained absolute. “We have agreed that the Revitalised Peace Agreement remains the paramount legal instrument with which all parties must comply and by which progress in South Sudan will be measured,” he said.

Detailing the summit’s eight-point action plan, Ramaphosa called on all parties to comply fully with the Revitalised Peace Agreement and show their commitment to its full implementation.

On human rights and the political climate, Ramaphosa said that while respecting the nation’s sovereignty and judicial processes, the government must “release all persons arbitrarily detained on political grounds and guarantee the rights, humane treatment and due process of persons facing judicial proceedings” .

This call follows President Kiir’s August 2026 order for the release of all prisoners of war and political detainees as part of a peace agreement with opposition leader Riek Machar .

Turning to the logistical and financial requirements for the upcoming polls, Ramaphosa urged the government to “work with speed to resolve the challenges that remain” and to adopt “a feasible, consensual and time-bound electoral roadmap that clearly sets out the legal basis, scope and sequencing of elections” .

While appealing to the international community to support South Sudan in a coordinated manner, Ramaphosa made clear that external aid could not replace local accountability.

“The primary responsibility for the implementation of the agreed measures rests with the government and parties of South Sudan,” he said. External support “must reinforce South Sudanese national ownership and respond to clearly identified priorities”.

Ramaphosa closed by stating that for democracy to take hold, leaders “must demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusivity, peace and national reconciliation”. He expressed confidence that, “acting together, we can accompany South Sudan through this critical period and help secure a future of lasting peace and democracy for its people”.