AU Mediators Arrive in South Sudan to Prevent War

African Union (AU) mediators arrived in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Wednesday for urgent talks aimed at preventing a return to civil war. Their intervention follows the house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar last week, a move that has escalated tensions in the fragile nation.

President Salva Kiir’s government has accused Machar—his longtime rival and former rebel leader—of inciting a rebellion. Machar was detained last Wednesday amid clashes in the Upper Nile state between government forces and the White Army militia. While Machar’s camp previously allied with the militia during the 2013-2018 civil war, they deny any current links.

The AU delegation, which landed in Juba on Wednesday afternoon, includes members of the Council of the Wise, such as former Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye and former Kenyan judge Effie Owuor. Their mission is to reduce tensions and uphold the 2018 peace agreement that ended the five-year conflict.

Machar’s SPLM-IO party welcomed the mediators, emphasizing their role in ensuring peace and stability. Meanwhile, the AU Peace and Security Council called for Machar’s immediate and unconditional release, warning that his detention jeopardizes the fragile peace deal. Adding to diplomatic efforts, Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrived in Juba on Monday, representing an East African regional bloc. While he met with President Kiir, he was denied access to Machar, raising concerns over government actions.

 The ongoing war in neighboring Sudan has also fueled instability, contributing to an influx of weapons that could escalate tensions.

The 2013-2018 civil war, which left hundreds of thousands dead, was driven by ethnic divisions between Kiir’s Dinka-led forces and Machar’s Nuer-aligned troops. Recent events risk reviving those deep-rooted tensions, increasing fears of renewed conflict.

With diplomatic efforts intensifying, the AU and regional leaders now face the challenge of steering South Sudan away from war.

AFRICANEWS/S.S