ADDIS ABABA – In an extraordinary summit convened under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), regional heads of state gathered on Monday to address the rapidly deteriorating situation in South Sudan, amid escalating violence and a fragile peace process under renewed strain.
In his opening address, IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu underscored the regional bloc’s unwavering commitment as both the midwife to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the principal guarantor of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). He called upon South Sudan’s leadership to act decisively to avert a return to full-scale conflict.
“South Sudan stands once more at a dangerous crossroads,” Dr. Gebeyehu told delegates. “This summit is not only a moment of reckoning but an opportunity for renewal. We call upon the parties to embrace peace, not peril.”
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The urgent meeting comes in the wake of violent clashes in Nasir, Upper Nile State, where over 6,000 members of the so-called “White Army” reportedly overran a government military base on March 4, resulting in significant casualties. The crisis deepened days later when a UN evacuation mission came under attack, leading to the deaths of several South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) soldiers, a senior general, and a UN crew member.
The incident has drawn international condemnation and renewed scrutiny of the South Sudanese government’s commitment to the peace accord. The United Nations labeled the attack a potential war crime, and calls for an independent investigation have intensified.
Mounting Political Pressure and Diplomatic Engagement
The crisis in Nasir, which follows a series of arrests of opposition figures and deteriorating intergovernmental trust, has severely strained the mechanisms established under the peace deal. IGAD notes with concern that institutions like the Joint Defence Board have become inactive, while key reforms—such as the drafting of a new constitution and preparations for long-delayed elections—remain stagnant.
Dr. Gebeyehu extended profound gratitude to regional leaders who have intervened to calm tensions, including IGAD Chair H.E. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Kenyan President William Ruto, and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud.
Special praise was reserved for President Ruto for his leadership of the Tumaini Initiative, which has sought to bring non-signatory groups into the peace fold. “This inclusive approach is vital for a durable peace,” Dr. Gebeyehu remarked.
Key Recommendations for Immediate Action
To stabilize the situation, IGAD outlined a seven-point plan calling for:
- An immediate and unconditional ceasefire and reactivation of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM).
- Urgent dialogue between South Sudan’s leaders, facilitated by an IGAD head of state.
- Release of detained opposition officials, unless due process under transparent legal proceedings is followed.
- Reinstatement of the Joint Defence Board to resolve deployment disputes and oversee military withdrawals.
- An independent investigation into the Nasir attack and UN helicopter incident.
- Intensified reconciliation efforts and wider inclusion through support for the Tumaini Initiative.
- A clear transition roadmap, including constitutional reforms and electoral milestones, to be agreed upon by December 2026.
“The 2018 Revitalised Agreement, while tested, remains the cornerstone of South Sudan’s path to peace,” Dr. Gebeyehu emphasized. “The international community stands ready, but the ultimate burden lies with South Sudan’s leaders to choose dialogue over division.”
A Regional Call for Peace
As IGAD recommits to its role as a steward of the South Sudanese peace process, the Secretariat reaffirmed its full support for the decisions and directives of the Heads of State and Government present at the summit.
“This gathering represents a critical opportunity to reaffirm our collective resolve,” Dr. Gebeyehu concluded. “The people of South Sudan deserve a future of dignity, prosperity, and lasting peace. Let us not allow the promise of 2011 to be lost to the shadows of renewed war.”
A final communiqué is expected at the summit’s close, formalizing regional consensus on next steps and reinforcing the urgency of collective action.
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