The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced on Sunday that the visit, led by African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, aims to foster dialogue on critical issues affecting the country.
“In the spirit of strengthening collaboration with international and regional organizations on matters of bilateral, multilateral, and mutual importance, the Ministry is honored to confirm that Hon. Amb. Monday Semaya K. Kumba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has extended a cordial invitation to H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and H.E. Mohamed Abdi Ware, Deputy Executive Secretary of IGAD, to visit South Sudan,” the ministry’s statement read.
“The joint visit is intended to facilitate meaningful diplomatic and political dialogue. The delegation is expected to arrive in Juba on Monday morning,” it added.
The AU delegation includes Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Deputy Chief of Staff Moussa Mohamed Omar, Spokesperson Nuur Mohamud Sheekh, Special Assistant Hamadou Mohamed Hamadoun, Cameraman Yohannes Zirotti Oriste, and Security Officer Bahiru Shifa Mohammed.
They will be joined by the IGAD delegation, comprising Deputy Executive Secretary Mohamed Abdi Ware, Special Envoy Amb. Ismail Wais, Legal Advisor, Samuel Tilahun, and Protocol Officer Linda Soubagie.
According to the schedule provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegation will hold bilateral discussions and meet with Presidential Advisor Kuol Manyang, who also chairs the National Transitional Committee, on Monday. Later that day, they will engage with cabinet ministers before concluding their schedule with a meeting with President Salva Kiir at State House. The delegation is set to depart on Tuesday evening.
The schedule does include a slot or plan to meet Dr Riek Machar, the country’s First Vice President and Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition, who has been detained since March, together with senior members of his party, including Minister of Petroleum, Puok Kang Chol.
The diplomatic visit, scheduled for May 5–6, comes amid escalating political tensions in South Sudan. It follows a tragic incident just two days prior, when the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) bombed civilian facilities, including a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)-run hospital in Old Fangak, Jonglei State. The attack killed seven people and injured 20.
The AU Commission condemned the strike, which occurred a day after the SSPDF announced “aerial punitive actions” in response to alleged boat hijackings in Jonglei and Unity states by the White Army and members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO).
Chairperson Youssouf described the attack as a grave violation of international humanitarian law, emphasising that it caused loss of life, destruction of property, and denied civilians access to healthcare and protection. He called on peace monitoring bodies to investigate the incident and ensure accountability for those responsible, labelling the act a “heinous crime.”
