The 43rd Extraordinary Assembly of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Heads of State and Government convened virtually on 12th March 2025 to address the serious security situation in the Republic of South Sudan. The Summit was chaired by H.E. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti and Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government and was attended by H.E. Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia; H.E. Dr. Gideon Timothewos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the representing H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minster of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; H.E. Dr. Monica Juma, National
Security Advisor representing the President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. William Ruto and Hon. Henry Oryem Okello, State Minister for
Foreign Affairs (International Affairs), representing H.E. Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda
Also in attendance were H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary; H.E. Moussa Faki, the outgoing Chairperson of the African Union Commission; H.E. Mohamed Abdi Ware, IGAD Deputy Executive Secretary and H.E. Ambassador Ismail Wais (PhD), IGAD Special
Envoy for South Sudan; H.E. Ambassador Joram Biswaro, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in South Sudan; H.E. Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in South Sudan; and the Chairs of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) and Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanisms (CTSAMVM) as observers.
Following the opening statement by the IGAD Chair and the presentation of a comprehensive situation report with detailed recommendations by the IGAD Executive Secretary, the summit meeting engaged in thorough discussions on the situation in South Sudan and subsequently the Assembly;
Extended greetings wishing Muslims the blessings of the Holy Month of Ramadan and Christians the blessings of the Lenten period, noting the summit’s timing during this period of spiritual significance.
Congratulated H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh for successfully convening the 43rd Extraordinary IGAD Assembly and thanked him for his steadfast leadership;
Commended H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan for his commitment to de-escalating tensions after the Nasir incident and alongside H.E. Riek Machar, 1st Vice-President of the Republic of South Sudan, jointly calling for calm and reiterating their collective resolve not to take the country back to war and encouraged continued messaging and measures to restore confidence;
Expressed condolences for the family, relatives, and the people and Government of South Sudan for the loss of lives in the Nasir incident; Deeply Appreciated the President of Djibouti and Chair of IGAD H.E. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, H.E. Abiy Ahmed Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia and H.E. Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, who in their own individual capacities, directly engaged with the leadership of South Sudan and further deployed highlevel delegations to Juba to aid in the calming of the situation in Nasir and urge for de-escalation and restraint;
Commended regional efforts to promote inclusive peace, particularly the Tumaini Initiative led by H.E. President William Ruto of Kenya with support from H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit and urged the mediators and negotiating parties to resume and conclude the talks within the shortest time possible with a view to make the R-ARCSS inclusive and sustainable;
Thanked the IGAD Executive Secretary, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, and the entire team at the IGAD Secretariat for facilitating the 43rd Extraordinary Summit on short notice;
On Security and Stability in South Sudan the Assembly;
Reaffirmed the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) of 2018 as the cornerstone of the peace process in South Sudan;
Underscored that dialogue and discussion remain the only means for resolving differences;
Expressed deep concern at the deteriorating security conditions in South Sudan, marked by resurgent violence, violations of ceasefire commitments, and a marked increase in violent incidents;
Expressed Alarm at the rising tensions in Juba and elsewhere following the Nasir incident and the arrest of senior SPLM/A-IO military and Government officials;
Strongly Condemned the killing of the Commander of the SSPDF forces in Nasir, Upper Nile State, General Majur Duk and others including a UN crew during evacuation.
Strongly urged the Parties to immediately de-escalate tensions, adhere to and respect the Permanent Ceasefire, and prioritize and expedite the implementation of Transitional Security Arrangements by providing the requisite resources in a timely manner;
Urged for theimmediate release of detained officials, unless credible evidence warrants legal proceedings conducted transparently and in accordance with due process;
Decided for CTSAMVM to undertake an investigation into the Nasir clashes and the attack on the UN helicopter to ascertain the facts and ensure accountability for any violations;
Called on the Parties to the R-ARCSS to reactivate the functioning of the various security mechanisms impacted by the arrest of officials;
Directed the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan to intensify engagement with all armed groups to secure full adherence to the ceasefire;
On Inclusive Governance and Reconciliation, the Summit:
Concerned by the growing lack of trust and confidence among the Parties to the R-ARCSS further eroded by recent incidents, called upon the leadership of all the Parties to the R-ARCSS to immediately deescalate tensions, embrace dialogue, speak with one voice and demonstrate their commitment to not return the country back to war through regular scheduled Presidency meetings to advance progress in the implementation of the R-ARCSS, address emerging issues and effectively communicate to the public their agreed outcomes;
Encouraged with the coordination of IGAD, the intensification of initiatives that are engaging all remaining holdout groups and urged them to renounce violence and join peace dialogues;
Resolved through the the IGAD Chair, H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, to constitute an IGAD Ministerial-level sub-committee on South Sudan to effectively engage and monitor the restoration of calm and engagement on the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) with regard to the implementation timeline essential tasks including the necessary unification of forces, drafting of the constitution, and preparations for the elections;
Decided to immediately task the IGAD Ministerial Sub-Committee on South Sudan to travel to Juba for an assessment on modalities of initiating an inclusive dialogue building on the status of the R-ARCSS and the outcomes of Tumaini Initiative;
Welcomed grassroots peace dialogues and encouraged religious and traditional leaders, and civil society to support reconciliation initiatives, and advocate for the inclusion and empowerment of women, youth and other under-represented groups;
Emphasized the importance of partnerships with the African Union, United Nations, and international partners while appealing for continued aligned efforts supporting full implementation of the peace agreement;
And, decided to remain actively seized of these matters.
