AU Peace and Security Council in Juba to assess South Sudan’s security situation

The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) is undertaking a three-day field mission in South Sudan to assess the peace and security situation in the country.

The mission is the fifth conducted by the PSC since October 2016, and it comes one year after the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in February 2020.

“Essentially, the main objectives of the field mission, are to gather first-hand information regarding the political, security, economic and humanitarian situation in the country, as well as to assess the state of progress in the implementation of the R-ARCSS, challenges being faced,” said a statement by the PSC.

“This information will be critical in informing the next steps to be taken by the AU in order to facilitate a successful transition in the country.”

During its three-day stay in South Sudan, the delegation is scheduled to hold meetings with government officials and other relevant stakeholders including representatives of political parties, civil society, representatives of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC), the United Nation (UN), the European Union (EU) and other development partners of South Sudan.

While South Sudan has remained largely peaceful since the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, U.N. agencies have reported isolated incidents of violence.

The country is expected to hold general elections in 2021, though the government earlier this week hinted at delaying the vote.

Xinhua News Agency