Pretoria
By Bryson Bichwa, AUBA Southern Africa
A bilateral discussion between President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan took place on Sunday, 15 February 2026. Speaking ahead of discussions at the African Union summit, Ramaphosa emphasized that timely measures are crucial to promote peace, stability, and democratic governance in the region.
“The people of South Sudan deserve elections that reflect their will and uphold democratic principles. It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to act swiftly and responsibly,” the President stated.
Ramaphosa’s remarks come as the AU and regional partners work closely with South Sudanese authorities to address lingering political challenges, security concerns, and logistical hurdles ahead of the upcoming elections.
Observers say that the AU’s engagement, coupled with calls from leaders like Ramaphosa, could play a pivotal role in ensuring a credible electoral process that strengthens national unity and regional stability.
President Ramaphosa opened the second day of the African Union Ad-hoc Committee Summit on South Sudan on Sunday, bringing together member states from the African Union, the East African Community, and the United Nations to support the nation’s peace process.
The summit comes ahead of South Sudan’s elections scheduled to be held this year. As the world’s youngest democracy, having gained independence in 2011, the country has faced significant challenges, including famine, political unrest, and the deaths of more than 100,000 people due to an ongoing struggle between the army and a parliamentary group.
The summit aims to bring together the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the UN, the African Union, and the East African Community to encourage unity and facilitate reconciliation.
President Ramaphosa’s call underscores the urgent need for stakeholders to prioritise interventions that foster free, fair, and credible elections for the people of South Sudan.
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