COMMUNIQUÉ

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1364^th meeting held on 26 August 2026 on Briefing on the Latest Developments in South Sudan.

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling all previous decisions and pronouncements on the situation in South Sudan, in particular, Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1343 (2026)] adopted at its 1343^rd Meeting held on 30 April 2026, on the adoption of the outcomes of the PSC field mission to Juba, South Sudan, conducted from 23 to 25 April 2026; and Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1326 (2026)] adopted at its 1326^th meeting held on 23 January 2026;

Also recalling the decisions of the Summit of the AU High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan (C5 Plus), held on 15 February 2026, which called for the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the urgent resumption of inclusive dialogue, and the organization of credible elections by December 2026 without any further extension of the transitional period;

Taking note of the opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Khaled, Permanent Representative of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for August 2026, as well as the opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS);

Further taking note of the briefings provided by H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania and AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea; H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Head of the AU Assessment Mission to South Sudan; and H.E. Ambassador Nonceba Losi, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the AU, in the capacity as Chair of the C5, on the C5 Ministerial Visit to Juba held from 6 to 8 July 2026; as well as the statements delivered by the representatives of the Republic of South Sudan and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD);

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

1. On the latest developments

1. Takes note with appreciation of the commitment of the South Sudanese authorities to hold credible, transparent and inclusive general elections on 22 December 2026;

2. Commends the RTGoNU and electoral bodies for initial progress in preparing for the December 2026 general elections, including the registration of 39 political parties by the Political Parties Council as of July 2026; and stresses that credible elections require sufficient political consensus, inclusivity, an open civic space, citizen security, effective dispute-resolution mechanisms, and the full participation of women, youth, and displaced populations;

3. Reiterates that the transitional mandate must conclusively end in February 2027 without further extensions;

4. Expresses concern over significant funding and administrative shortfalls facing election bodies;

5. Expresses deep concern over the deteriorating political situation and security fragility, marked by persistent disagreements among R-ARCSS signatories, the failure to convene the 12 August 2026 inter-party dialogue, and armed confrontations in Jonglei, Upper Nile, and other regions;

6. Expresses its deepest condolences to the families, the Government, and the people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia following the tragic ambush on 24 August 2026 in Jonglei State, which resulted in the death of two Ethiopian UN peacekeepers and injured seven others including three Ethiopian Personnel and four troops of other nationalities; wishes a speedy recovery to the injured; strongly condemns this cowardly attack on UN personnel and urges that the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) swiftly investigate the incident and hold all perpetrators accountable;

7. Expresses grave concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis driven by localized insecurity, economic instability, and climate shocks and access obstructions to humanitarian assistance; demands that concerned parties immediately cease attacks on civilians and humanitarian personnel while guaranteeing safe and unimpeded aid delivery;

2. On the implementation Process of previous decisions

8. Welcomes the engagements of H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea in the region, including his recent mission to South Sudan from 17 to 19 June 2026; further expresses appreciation for his sustained mediation efforts and commitment to peace and encourages continued engagement to support the full implementation of the R-ARCSS;

9. Also welcomes the high-level solidarity mission of the AU High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan (C5) to Juba from 6 to 8 July 2026, led by H.E. Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa and C5 Chairperson; and commends the delegation’s constructive engagements with the Government and key stakeholders to accelerate R-ARCSS implementation and support a peaceful political transition;

10. Commends the AU Assessment Mission to South Sudan led by H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; expresses its deep appreciation for the comprehensive and objective evaluation of the country’s readiness for the upcoming elections, and takes note of the mission’s findings regarding the key political, technical, operational, and security prerequisites required to ensure a peaceful, credible, inclusive, and transparent electoral process in accordance with the R-ARCSS;

3. On the actions to be undertaken

11. Calls upon the RTGoNU leadership and all R-ARCSS signatories to immediately resume direct, good-faith political dialogue without preconditions, supported by the AU High Representative, the C5, and IGAD, to address the implementation deficit of key transitional benchmarks;

12. Emphasizes that sustainable peace requires accountability and urges that the RTGoNU collaborate with the AU Commission to fast-track the formal establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan (HCSS) and the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) under Chapter V of the R-ARCSS;

13. Calls upon all parties to urgently complete the unification, training, and deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) as a critical prerequisite for the permanent ceasefire, and accelerate broader Security Sector Reform (SSR), Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) processes;

14. Reaffirms that there is no military solution to any political impasse; demands an immediate, unconditional cessation of all hostilities, military mobilization, and inflammatory rhetoric and calls upon the leadership, with respect to the national law, to release all political detainees and engage in inclusive, consensus-driven dialogue as the only path to national reconciliation;

15. Calls upon the RTGoNU to urgently allocate predictable domestic funding to the National Elections Commission (NEC), National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC), and Political Parties Council (PPC);

16. Requests the publication by the RTGoNU of a realistic, consensual electoral roadmap; as well as appeals to AU Member States, international partners, and donors in a position to do so to close the funding gap for the elections by submitting their concrete contributions to the AUC by October 2026;

17. Appeals to AU Member States and the international community to urgently scale up financial, technical, and material assistance for the humanitarian response, including support for the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees;

18. Emphasizes the need for sustained coordination among the AU, IGAD, C5, R-JMEC, and the UN, and requests the AU Commission, in consultation with these entities, to develop a coordinated political strategy for South Sudan with measurable priorities and a regular reporting mechanism to the PSC;

19. Decides to hold a dedicated session on electoral preparedness in October 2026, and requests the AU Commission to submit a detailed fact sheet on election readiness ahead of this meeting, based on the findings of the missions of the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, C5, as well as the AU Assessment Mission to South Sudan;

20. Looks forward to the C5 Summit to be held online by December 2026; and

21. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS