Tinubu calls for Machar’s release, reaffirms support for peace in South Sudan

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has restated Nigeria’s support for the rapid implementation of the revitalised peace agreement in South Sudan, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the country’s First Vice President, Riek Machar, along with other detained opposition leaders.

This position was conveyed in a statement issued on Monday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President).

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

Tinubu urged the South Sudanese authorities to free Machar and other opposition figures without conditions and called for the convening of an inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation forum. He appealed to all parties to engage constructively in mediation efforts without preconditions.

He said Nigeria aligns with other African countries in acknowledging the South Sudanese people’s aspirations for peace, sustainable development, and a swift end to the conflict.

The President reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting South Sudan’s Transitional Government of National Unity and its citizens in achieving lasting peace and development. He emphasised that national unity and consensus among political leaders are essential for progress, stressing that inclusive, peaceful, and transparent elections are critical to building trust in the country’s future leadership.

Tinubu also highlighted Nigeria’s involvement in the Regional Partnership for Democracy and warned that ongoing insecurity and political tensions continue to undermine South Sudan’s transitional processes, including security sector reforms and constitution drafting.

In his remarks, President Ramaphosa praised African leaders for their resolve to resolve the crisis, noting that implementation of the revitalised peace agreement remains slow, eight years after its adoption. He described the C-5 Plus Summit as a clear demonstration of collective commitment to securing a lasting solution for South Sudan.

Similarly, Djibouti’s President and Chairman of IGAD, Ismail Omar Guelleh, reaffirmed the regional bloc’s dedication to peace in South Sudan and proposed the appointment of a lead mediator to oversee implementation and address emerging challenges.

Other participants at the summit included the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf; the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali; the President of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune; as well as representatives from Chad, Rwanda, and other countries.

In a related development, Nigeria pledged comprehensive infrastructural and operational support for the Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea. Tinubu said Nigeria would provide office facilities, vessels, helicopters, and temporary personnel to strengthen the task force’s capacity to combat transnational organised crime and improve maritime security in the region.