SSHRDN Urges AU Panel to Engage in Inclusive Consultation of Peace Parties

South Sudan Calls for Comprehensive Peace Talks

JUBA – The South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) has urged the African Union mediation team to ensure inclusive consultations with all peace parties to resolve the country’s political crisis.

The AU Panel of the Wise arrived in Juba on Wednesday, meeting with President Salva Kiir and planning further discussions with stakeholders over the coming days. Their mission focuses on easing tensions, fostering dialogue, and advancing the peace agreement implementation.

Key Demands for Sustainable Peace

Advocate Omara Joseph Wani, SSHRDN’s Protection and Advocacy Officer, emphasized that lasting peace requires hearing all voices:

“We believe that for us to achieve peace at this point, all the parties that are signatories to the peace agreement should all be engaged.”

Wani specifically called for:

• Release of detained political figures or proper legal proceedings
• Inclusion of civil society perspectives in mediation efforts
• Recognition of civil society’s historic role in the 2018 peace process

Concerns Over Current Approach

The human rights advocate expressed concern about recent arrests of key political figures, stating:

“We don’t see that it serves any relevance in terms of implementing the agreement. The AU panel should ensure these political actors are released.”

The Network stresses that excluding critical voices undermines the peace process and jeopardizes South Sudan’s fragile stability.