Diplomatic missions from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union have extended an offer to mediate direct talks between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar in a bid to restore and maintain peace in the country.
This call for dialogue follows escalating violence in Upper Nile State, including aerial bombardments in Nasir County and alarming reports of civilian casualties. The international community expressed growing concern over the ongoing conflict and its devastating impact on civilians.
In a joint statement, the foreign missions emphasized the urgent need for direct dialogue between the country’s leaders. “We reaffirm as a matter of urgency our call for President Kiir and First Vice President Machar to meet and engage in meaningful discussions to restore and sustain peace in South Sudan,” the statement read.
The diplomats also expressed concern over reports indicating that survivors of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) garrison in Nasir have been unable to return to safe locations. Additionally, they highlighted the continued detentions of senior officials in Juba without formal charges.
The diplomatic community urged South Sudan’s leaders to avoid unilateral actions and called for a rejection of violence as a tool for political competition. “The interests of the South Sudanese people must be the foremost priority,” the statement concluded, reiterating the international community’s commitment to supporting peace efforts in South Sudan.
This diplomatic push underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict, with hopes that direct engagement between Kiir and Machar will pave the way for long-term stability in the region.