Your Excellency, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
General Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan,
Former President Jakaya Kikwete, AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea,
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security,
Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD,
Dr Abdiweli Ali, AU Special Representative and Head of Mission to South Sudan,
Ministers,
Ambassadors,
Officials,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Welcome to this C5 Plus Summit on South Sudan.
 
Allow me to express my sincere apologies for the last-minute cancellation of the meeting originally scheduled for 16 September 2026. 
 
As you may be aware, I was unwell and I was advised by my doctors to rest and recuperate. 
 
Thank you for your kind understanding and for being available for the meeting today.
 
A warm welcome to His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit. 
 
We wish to commend you and the broader leadership of the Republic of South Sudan for your commitment to bringing peace and stability to your country and its people.
 
As AU Member States, we have a collective responsibility to support South Sudan to overcome its challenges and achieve its national vision of unity, peace and prosperity.
 
The Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan remains the only internationally recognised framework for the implementation of South Sudan’s transition. 
 
We are pleased that since the inaugural C5 Plus Summit earlier this year, support for the implementation of the Agreement has grown across the region and the continent.
 
We welcome the appointment of former President Jakaya Kikwete as the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. 
 
Your Excellency President Kikwete, we wish you well as you deploy your extensive expertise and considerable energies to assisting the government and the people of South Sudan.
 
We have noted the significant developments in South Sudan over the past week, notably the dissolution of the Transitional Government on 22 September 2026, the amendments to the National Elections Act of 2012, and the commencement of the Inter-Party Political Dialogue on 24 September 2026. 
 
These developments take place against the backdrop of preparations for the first general elections since attaining independence. 
 
We look forward to receiving further information from President Kiir on the impact of these important developments.
 
We acknowledge the efforts of the African Union’s technical pre-election and needs assessment mission that was in Juba from the 23rd to the 28th of August this year, ably led by His Excellency Geoffrey Onyeama, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
 
As AU Member States, our best wishes are with the people of South Sudan as they head to elections later this year.
 
We know that elections on their own are not a sufficient guarantor of peace and democracy.
 
Holding credible elections must be preceded and accompanied by a genuine, inclusive political process, bolstered by security arrangements and protection of electoral staff and civilians. 
 
There must be a clear legal framework, adequate financing, and capable institutional and operational capacity. 
 
This means that everything possible must be done urgently to address outstanding shortcomings that continue to stand in the way of achieving lasting and durable peace. 
 
Inclusive dialogue is a vital guarantor of the future of South Sudan and its peoples. 
 
We call on the leaders of South Sudan to seize this moment to come together despite their differences to discuss the problems and challenges that stand in the way of their advancement as a nation.
 
As the parties to this Summit, we stand ready with our support, counsel and solidarity as the leaders and people of South Sudan continue along their journey.
 
The people of South Sudan must know that they do not stand alone. 
 
Their peace is our peace, their stability is our stability and their success is our success.
 
Thank you once again for your attendance, and I look forward to our deliberations.
 
I thank you.