Nigeria Pledges Support for South Sudan Peace

President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to the swift implementation of the revitalized peace agreement in South Sudan during the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan (C-5 Plus Summit) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Nigeria urged the immediate and unconditional release of South Sudan's First Vice President, Riek Machar, and other key opposition figures, advocating for an all-inclusive national dialogue and transparent elections. The Nigerian leader emphasized the importance of national unity and elite consensus for progress in South Sudan's transition, noting that insecurity and political tension hinder reforms. Additionally, Nigeria pledged full infrastructural and operational support for the Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea, providing office buildings, ships, helicopters, and temporary personnel to enhance maritime security. Other African leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Djibouti's President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, also expressed their commitment to resolving the conflict and addressing implementation delays.