Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting peace, national reconciliation and democratic governance in South Sudan through sustained diplomatic engagement and regional cooperation.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the assurance during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan to Nigeria, David Choat, on Thursday in Abuja.

A statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the meeting reviewed South Sudan’s peace process, national reconciliation efforts and bilateral relations between both countries.

Mr Enikanolaiye urged the Government of South Sudan to fully implement the Revitalised Peace Agreement in an open, transparent and inclusive manner ahead of the presidential election scheduled for December 2026.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for durable peace, stability and inclusive dialogue in South Sudan, consistent with its longstanding contributions to peacebuilding efforts in the region.

The minister also urged the South Sudanese government to intensify efforts to end internal conflicts and disagreements to create a peaceful atmosphere for its citizens, including ensuring a ceasefire in the White Nile region.

He recalled that the Abuja I and Abuja II peace talks held in the early 1990s played a significant role in the peace process that eventually led to South Sudan’s independence in 2011.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu, as a member of the African Union (AU) Ad hoc Committee of Five (C5) on South Sudan, remains committed to promoting peace and national reconciliation in the country.

“The IGAD-AU-led peace process remains the surest pathway to enduring peace, security and stability in South Sudan.

“Nigeria has continued to support manpower development in South Sudan through the deployment of Technical Aid Corps volunteers and stands ready to deploy additional volunteers in response to requests from the Government of South Sudan,” he said.

Mr Enikanolaiye reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to support efforts aimed at creating conditions for a credible electoral process.

He stressed that the judicial proceedings involving the imprisoned vice-president, Riek Machar, should be concluded in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice.

He also condemned the recent assault on a Nigerian diplomat in Juba and called for a thorough investigation, as well as the identification and prosecution of those responsible.

The minister urged the South Sudanese authorities to guarantee the safety and security of Nigerian diplomatic personnel in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

In his remarks, Mr Choat congratulated Mr Enikanolaiye on his appointment and described it as well deserved, considering his wealth of diplomatic experience.

The envoy expressed the regrets of the Government of South Sudan over the assault on the Nigerian diplomat and assured that the matter was being investigated by the relevant authorities.

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of conducting credible, free, fair and inclusive elections as a critical step towards consolidating democratic governance and sustainable peace in South Sudan.

They also agreed on the need for the early establishment of the Nigeria-South Sudan Ministerial Commission to provide a structured platform for regular high-level consultations and enhanced cooperation in political, economic, security and socio-cultural affairs.

(NAN)