Deputy President David Mabuza concludes a successful working visit to South Sudan

Deputy President David Mabuza, in his capacity as South Africa’s Special Envoy to South Sudan, has concluded a successful working visit.

During the visit, Deputy President Mabuza held consultation meetings with various parties and stakeholders that are signatories to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan. In these consultations, there was consensus on the formation of the Revitalised Government of National Unity before or by the end of the current extended period of 100 days ending in February 2020.

The number of states and their boundaries has been a sticking point between Parties towards the formation of Transitional Government of National Unity. Given that this matter has not been settled, the Parties have agreed on a seven (7) day period for further consultation on the proposal of arbitration as a mechanism to break the impasse.

Deputy President Mabuza expressed his satisfaction at the progress made especially as Parties committed to the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity, and for having moved closer to one another on a mechanism to resolve the impasse on states and boundaries.

“We have entered a crucial stage of these negotiations and all of us should treat this process with diligence and care. As facilitators, we are confident that the Parties will form the Transitional Government of National Unity within this window. In our view, the proposal on the table is one mechanism that can produce an outcome that will stand the test of time, and serve as a strong basis for the constitutional making process as stipulated in the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan. We therefore must allow Parties time to consult as they have requested,” said Deputy President Mabuza.

Deputy President Mabuza thanked the IGAD Mediation for the role it continues to play in supporting the peace process. In these deliberations, the Deputy President was joined by the Special Envoys from Kenya, Dr Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Ms Betty Bigombe from Uganda and Ambassador Dr. Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy on South Sudan.


Media enquiries: Matshepo Seedat on +2782 6799 473 or Matshepo@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria