March 27, 2025, Djibouti: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) expresses alarm over reports of the house arrest of H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny, First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, and the escalating political tensions in South Sudan. These developments seriously undermine the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and risk plunging the country back into violent conflict.
H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary, by recalling the Communique of the 43rd Extraordinary IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government of 12th March 2025 called on “all parties to immediately refrain from unilateral actions that violate the spirit and letter of the R-ARCSS, which remains the only viable framework for sustainable peace in South Sudan. The current trajectory, if unchecked, could lead to a collapse of the transitional process and a relapse into full-scale war, with devastating consequences for the people of South Sudan and the region at large.”
The Executive Secretary also urged “all signatories to the Agreement to exercise maximum restraint, prioritise dialogue, and resolve differences through inclusive and peaceful means. Dr. Workneh reiterated IGAD’s readiness to support mediation efforts and called upon regional and international partners to reinforce the imperative of preserving peace in South Sudan.
The people of South Sudan deserve lasting stability, not a return to conflict. IGAD reaffirms its commitment to the full implementation of the R-ARCSS and urges all stakeholders to act responsibly in the interest of peace and national unity.
