Morocco calls for stability and peace in South Sudan

As the President of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) for the month of March, Morocco emphasized the importance of working toward stability, peace, and prosperity for South Sudan. On Tuesday, in Addis Ababa, the Kingdom of Morocco’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the AU and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Mohamed Arrouchi, chaired a virtual PSC meeting on the situation in South Sudan.

Ambassador Arrouchi stressed the need for continuous and unwavering support for the people of South Sudan. Despite progress, the country remains in a fragile state. He underscored that Morocco’s support for South Sudan’s people must remain strong, urging continued collaboration with South Sudan’s authorities to fully implement the Revitalized Agreement and support efforts for peacebuilding, reconciliation, and development.

South Sudan is at a critical juncture, where key decisions must be made for a peaceful transition and lasting democracy. Ambassador Arrouchi reiterated the collective responsibility to ensure that the country achieves the stability, peace, and prosperity it deserves. He highlighted concerns over rising tensions, which could threaten the sustainability of the Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS) and the ceasefire agreement in place since 2018.

With growing fears that these tensions may escalate into a renewed civil war, the Peace and Security Council must ensure that all signatories of the agreement continue to act responsibly and prioritize dialogue to resolve their disputes. During the CPS mission to Juba in June 2024, significant advances were noted in the implementation of the R-ARCSS, particularly in governance, security, and economic recovery. However, gaps remain in the electoral process preparations and the unification of forces to form a unified national army.

In this context, the decision to extend the election date by two years was made to allow South Sudan time to complete the outstanding tasks needed for organizing elections in December 2026 and finalizing the transition by February 2027.