Nigeria Renews Support for South Sudan Peace, Urges Machar’s Immediate Release

by Momodu Favour

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the full implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of South Sudan’s First Vice President, Riek Machar.

Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the appeal at the African Union (AU) High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, known as the C-5 Plus Summit.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In his address, Tinubu urged South Sudan’s government to release Machar and other detained opposition figures and to convene an all-inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation forum to stabilise the country’s fragile political transition.

“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,” he stated, while encouraging all parties to engage constructively in mediation efforts without preconditions.

The Nigerian leader reiterated Abuja’s support for the South Sudanese Transitional Government of National Unity and its people in their pursuit of sustainable peace and development.

He warned that persistent insecurity and political tensions were undermining critical transitional milestones, including security sector reforms and constitution drafting.

Tinubu stressed the importance of conducting inclusive, peaceful and transparent elections to rebuild public trust and ensure long-term stability.

Earlier, Chair of the AU High-Level Ad Hoc Committee and President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, called on stakeholders to recommit to the revitalised agreement, lamenting the slow pace of implementation eight years after its endorsement.

Also speaking, President of Djibouti and Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Ismail Omar Guelleh, proposed appointing a lead mediator to monitor implementation and address emerging challenges.

Meanwhile, Nigeria used the forum to reiterate its broader commitment to regional peace and security, pledging to host the headquarters of the Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea.

The country offered office facilities, naval vessels, helicopters and temporary personnel to strengthen maritime security and combat transnational organised crime in the region.

Vice President Shettima said Nigeria’s pledge reflects its longstanding role in promoting regional stability, debt sustainability, and coordinated African responses to emerging security threats.

He also welcomed progress on the African Standby Force and expressed support for efforts to activate the African Court of Justice and strengthen continental institutions.

Observers say Nigeria’s renewed diplomatic push underscores its ambition to remain a leading voice in continental peacebuilding and security architecture, particularly at a time when fragile transitions in parts of Africa continue to test regional solidarity.