Addressing Parliament on Thursday, Mr Mashatile, who also serves as Pretoria’s Special Envoy to South Sudan, said external actors cannot carry the burden of implementing the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“Our role is to support, not to substitute their responsibility,” Mashatile said, underscoring that the peace process ultimately depends on the political will of South Sudan’s leadership.
His remarks come amid mounting tensions within the unity government and growing concern over stalled implementation of key provisions of the agreement, including security arrangements, political reforms, and preparations for long-delayed elections.
Mashatile’s statement reflects a shift in tone from regional partners, increasingly signalling that South Sudan’s leaders will be held accountable for failures in the peace process rather than relying on external mediation to bridge persistent political divides.
South Africa, alongside the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), is a guarantor of the peace deal. However, Mashatile stressed that guarantees do not absolve the signatories of their obligations.
“It is incumbent upon the broad leadership of South Sudan to demonstrate the requisite political will and responsible leadership necessary to implement their own agreement,” he said.
The renewed pressure follows recent diplomatic engagements between South Sudan and South Africa during President Kiir’s official and medical visit to Pretoria.
A high-level delegation from Juba met South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, to follow up on resolutions of the C5 Plus Summit held earlier this year on the margins of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
At that meeting, regional leaders agreed on key steps to stabilise South Sudan’s transition, including a cessation of hostilities, the release of detainees, inclusive dialogue, and, crucially, no further extension of the transitional period—effectively setting the stage for elections.
Mashatile said South Africa will use its upcoming seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council from April 2026 to March 2028 to mobilise diplomatic, political, technical, and financial support for South Sudan, particularly in organising “credible, free, and fair elections.”
Yet analysts warn that without tangible progress on implementing the agreement, including restoring trust between Kiir and Machar, such support may have a limited impact.
The unity government has repeatedly faced accusations of selective implementation of the peace deal, with both sides blaming each other for delays. Key benchmarks—such as the unification of forces, drafting of a permanent constitution, and creation of a conducive political environment—remain incomplete.
Mashatile’s remarks suggest growing impatience among regional stakeholders, who appear increasingly unwilling to accept further delays or political deadlock.
With elections looming and pressure mounting, the message from Pretoria is clear: the international community can assist, but the responsibility for peace—and the consequences of failure—rests with South Sudan’s own leaders.
