Presidential meeting at Mahlamba Ndlopfu
President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir Mayardit, to his official Pretoria residence, Mahlamba Ndlopfu, for high-level discussions centred on the evolving political landscape in South Sudan and the strengthening of ties between the two nations.
The engagement, characterised as a Working Visit, offered both leaders a platform to assess bilateral relations and deliberate on critical developments within South Sudan. Chief among the topics was the progress surrounding the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, commonly referred to as the R-ARCSS.
"The Working Visit provides an opportune moment for the two Heads of State to discuss bilateral relations and exchange views on the latest political developments in South Sudan, particularly the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS)."
The R-ARCSS serves as the legal foundation underpinning South Sudan's transition towards lasting peace. The agreement sets out governance arrangements, reforms to the security sector, the creation of unified armed forces, and processes for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration. It further addresses judicial review mechanisms and the drafting of a new constitution.
Deep-rooted diplomatic ties
Formal diplomatic relations between South Africa and South Sudan were established on 24 September 2012, when the two countries signed an agreement laying the groundwork for bilateral cooperation. A General Cooperation Agreement followed in 2013, further cementing the partnership. However, the bond between the two nations stretches back well before South Sudan gained its independence, rooted in longstanding fraternal connections.
The Pretoria meeting built on recent interactions between the two presidents. Ramaphosa and Kiir last engaged on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa during February 2026. At that gathering, the South African president also presided over the Ad Hoc High-Level Committee on South Sudan, known as the C5 Plus.
The C5 committee carries the mandate of monitoring and supporting the rollout of the R-ARCSS, ensuring that the commitments made under the peace framework translate into tangible progress on the ground. Ramaphosa's chairmanship of this body underscores South Africa's active role in continental peace-building efforts.
The Working Visit signals Pretoria's continued commitment to supporting stability in South Sudan, as the young nation navigates the complex path from conflict to democratic governance under the terms of the revitalised peace agreement.
South Africa's sustained diplomatic engagement with South Sudan, including Ramaphosa's chairmanship of the C5 Plus committee, reinforces the country's positioning as a leading mediator in African conflict resolution. For South African businesses and investors eyeing expansion into East Africa, stability in South Sudan could unlock opportunities in infrastructure, mining, and trade. The outcome of these ongoing peace efforts may also shape how international partners view South Africa's capacity to anchor continental governance frameworks going forward.
