South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has met with his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir Mayardit, to discuss preparations for South Sudan’s December elections and efforts to advance the country’s peace process.
The talks, held in Tshwane on Wednesday, came days after Ramaphosa, in his capacity as chair of the African Union’s High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, led regional discussions on the country’s readiness for the December 22 elections.
The two leaders reviewed the implementation of the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, ongoing political dialogue and preparations for the forthcoming elections.
South Africa is expected to provide support for the electoral process as part of broader regional efforts to promote peace and political stability in South Sudan.
Ramaphosa has called on South Sudanese authorities and political stakeholders to address outstanding political, security and logistical challenges ahead of the polls.
He stressed the need for conditions that would enable the elections to be conducted peacefully, credibly and inclusively.
The discussions between the two leaders come amid continued regional efforts to support the implementation of the peace agreement and sustain dialogue among South Sudan’s political stakeholders.
The 2018 agreement was designed to end years of conflict and establish a framework for political transition in the country, but its implementation has faced delays and other challenges.
With the December 22 elections approaching, regional stakeholders have continued to encourage South Sudan to address outstanding issues and strengthen preparations for the polls.
