JUBA — A group of Western and international diplomatic missions has expressed deep concern over recent amendments to South Sudan’s 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, warning that changes made without the consent of all signatories could undermine the country’s fragile peace process.
In a joint statement, the embassies of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, together with the European Union Delegation to South Sudan, said the amendments were passed by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly without the full consensus required under the peace agreement.
The diplomatic missions emphasized that the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), signed in 2018, remains the cornerstone of the country’s political transition and the basis of legitimacy for the Transitional Government of National Unity.
“The peace agreement remains the foundation of South Sudan’s transition,” the statement said, stressing that any modifications to its provisions should be undertaken through inclusive consultations and genuine dialogue involving all parties that signed the accord.
The envoys warned that unilateral actions risk eroding trust among political stakeholders at a time when the country continues to face significant political, economic, and security challenges.
The statement comes amid growing tensions in South Sudan, where concerns have been mounting over delays in implementing key provisions of the peace agreement, including constitutional reforms, security arrangements, and preparations for long-awaited elections.
The diplomatic missions also called for an immediate cessation of hostilities across the country and urged all parties to demonstrate restraint, avoid inflammatory rhetoric, and recommit themselves to the objectives of the peace process.
They stressed that lasting peace and stability can only be achieved through dialogue, compromise, and adherence to the commitments made under the 2018 agreement.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but descended into a devastating civil war two years later. The 2018 peace deal ended much of the large-scale fighting and established a power-sharing arrangement between rival political factions, although implementation of the agreement has faced repeated setbacks.
The international community has consistently urged South Sudan’s leaders to preserve the gains made under the peace agreement and to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than unilateral political measures.
The joint statement concluded with a renewed call for all stakeholders to prioritize national unity, peace, and the aspirations of the South Sudanese people as the country continues its transition toward democratic governance
