AU panel in Juba to intervene in South Sudan crisis

The African Union (AU) Panel of the Wise will set foot in Juba from today, April 2, to April 6, in a last-minute effort to de-escalate rising tensions and support the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf announced the mission on Monday, highlighting the need for dialogue.

“The Chairperson is dispatching a high-level delegation of the AU Panel of the Wise to Juba to engage with all the stakeholders to de-escalate tensions and promote dialogue,” said Youssouf.

The AUC Chairperson reiterated AU’s commitment to peace, stressing the need for regional cooperation.

“The African Union remains steadfast in supporting South Sudan’s peace process and transition to democracy,” he said. “We are committed to working with all stakeholders to uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement and ensure its full implementation.”

During their visit, the AU panel will meet with President Kiir, Vice Presidents, electoral and constitutional bodies, security officials, and institutions established under the R-ARCSS. They will also engage with regional partners, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM).

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Lying President? Ruto not honest about nurturing Nyoro, ally says
• 
  Museveni arrives in Juba as AU, IGAD mediate South Sudan peace talks
• 
  Mudavadi: Kenya receives at least 20 South Sudanese refugees daily
• 
  Kenya receiving 20 refugees from South Sudan daily, says Mudavadi

The Panel of the Wise, a key pillar of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) since 2007, comprises African leaders focused on conflict prevention and resolution.

Its current members include Professor Babacar Kanté, former Vice President of the Constitutional Court of Senegal, Domitien Ndayizeye, former President of Burundi, Amre Moussa, former Foreign Minister of Egypt, Lady Justice Effie Owuor, retired Judge Kenya Court of Appeal, and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Deputy President of South Africa.

The AU’s intervention comes just days after Kenya sent Raila Odinga to Juba as a special envoy to negotiate peace. 

However, Odinga returned to Nairobi a day later after failing to meet Vice President Riek Machar. The Kenyan government has since remained mum, raising questions about its role in the peace process.

Meanwhile, violence has surged in South Sudan. A recent attack in Nasir by the White Army—allegedly linked to Machar—overran an army base, further escalating tensions.