Pretoria, South Africa — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir have held talks on preparations for South Sudan’s December elections and efforts to prevent renewed conflict as political and security tensions persist.

The two leaders met in Pretoria on Wednesday during Kiir’s working visit to South Africa, with discussions focused on implementing the country’s 2018 peace agreement and ensuring a peaceful electoral process.

Ramaphosa emphasized the need to fully implement the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan and urged political stakeholders to rebuild trust ahead of the vote.

South Sudan prepares for first elections since independence

South Sudan is scheduled to hold general elections on December 22, marking its first national vote since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.

The African Union has warned that political, security, legal and logistical challenges must be addressed to ensure the elections are peaceful, credible and inclusive.

The vote is a key part of South Sudan’s political transition under the 2018 peace agreement, which was intended to end years of civil conflict and establish a framework for power-sharing and national elections.

South Africa pledges support for South Sudan elections

The Pretoria meeting followed regional consultations led by Ramaphosa in his capacity as chair of the African Union’s High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, known as the C5.

South Africa pledged support for South Sudan’s electoral preparations, including assistance with election materials and technical capacity.

The discussions form part of wider African Union efforts to support the peace process and address outstanding issues ahead of the December vote.

Renewed violence threatens South Sudan peace process

The diplomatic engagement comes amid renewed fighting between government forces and opposition groups, raising concerns over the stability of South Sudan’s peace agreement.

The violence has displaced more than 200,000 people over the past year, while continuing political tensions have fueled fears of a return to wider conflict.

Regional leaders are seeking to prevent further escalation as South Sudan approaches its planned elections.