Tinubu urges release of South Sudan’s Vice President Machar, backs renewed push for peace
President Bola Tinubu has called for the immediate and unconditional release of South Sudan’s First Vice President, Riek Machar, reaffirming Nigeria’s support for the full implementation of the country’s revitalised peace agreement.
Tinubu’s position was conveyed by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, known as the C-5 Plus Summit.
The meeting was held in Addis Ababa on the margins of the 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
In his address, Tinubu urged South Sudanese authorities to release Machar and other detained opposition figures as a confidence-building measure to stabilise the fragile political transition.
He stressed the need for an inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation forum that would bring together all stakeholders without preconditions.
According to him, constructive engagement among rival factions remains essential to restoring trust and advancing the peace process.
Nigeria, he said, stands in solidarity with other African nations in recognising the aspirations of the South Sudanese people for lasting peace, democratic governance, and sustainable development.
“We reiterate our commitment to accompany the South Sudanese Transitional Government of National Unity and its people in realising their aspiration for enduring peace and progress,” the president stated.
Tinubu underscored that national cohesion and elite consensus are critical to navigating South Sudan’s transitional phase.
He urged African leaders to prioritise peaceful, inclusive, and transparent elections as a pathway to building confidence in leadership and institutions.
He also drew attention to the broader consequences of persistent insecurity and political tensions, warning that delays in implementing agreed reforms such as security sector restructuring and constitution drafting could undermine the transition.
Nigeria’s participation at the summit, he noted, aligned with its broader diplomatic engagement on the continent, including involvement in the Regional Partnership for Democracy initiative.
The summit was chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who acknowledged that implementation of the revitalised peace agreement has lagged years after its adoption.
He described the C-5 Plus platform as a demonstration of African leaders’ resolve to secure a durable settlement for South Sudan.
Other prominent participants included Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who currently chairs the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune were also in attendance, alongside representatives from several other African states.
Guelleh proposed the appointment of a lead mediator to oversee the peace agreement’s implementation and address emerging obstacles.
In a related development, Tinubu announced Nigeria’s commitment to provide infrastructural and operational backing for the Combined Maritime Task Force operating in the Gulf of Guinea.
He said Nigeria would supply office facilities, vessels, helicopters, and temporary personnel to strengthen efforts against transnational organised crime and maritime insecurity in the region.
Observers said Nigeria’s intervention at the summit reflects Abuja’s longstanding role in African peace diplomacy and its continued push for African-led solutions to continental conflicts.
