President Bola Tinubu has reiterated Nigeria's unwavering support for the comprehensive implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. He specifically called for the prompt and unconditional release of the country's First Vice President, Riek Machar.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu conveyed this message at the African Union (AU) High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, also known as the C-5 Plus Summit. The summit convened on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
President Tinubu urged the South Sudanese government to release Machar and other opposition figures in detention. He also advocated for the establishment of an all-inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation forum.
"We wish to specifically call on the government to consider the immediate and unconditional release from detention of the Vice President and other key opposition figures," Tinubu stated, adding a plea for all parties to engage constructively in mediation efforts without imposing prior conditions.
Tinubu affirmed Nigeria's continued dedication to assisting the South Sudanese Transitional Government of National Unity and its citizens in their quest for enduring peace and development.
He cautioned that persistent insecurity and political instability were hindering crucial transitional processes, including security sector reforms and the drafting of a constitution. The President emphasized the necessity of conducting inclusive, peaceful, and transparent elections to foster renewed trust.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the AU High-Level Ad Hoc Committee and President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, implored stakeholders to renew their commitment to the revitalised agreement, noting the slow pace of its implementation eight years after its endorsement.
Other leaders, including the President of Djibouti and Chairperson of IGAD, Ismail Omar Guelleh, proposed the appointment of a lead mediator to oversee the agreement's implementation and address emerging challenges.
Separately, Nigeria announced its intention to host the headquarters of the Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea. The country offered to provide office facilities, ships, helicopters, and temporary personnel to bolster maritime security and combat transnational organised crime.
Vice President Shettima stated that Nigeria's commitment to this initiative reflects its broader dedication to regional security, debt sustainability, and the promotion of coordinated African responses to evolving challenges.
He also acknowledged the progress being made with the African Standby Force and expressed support for efforts aimed at operationalising the African Court of Justice and strengthening continental institutions.
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