South Africa Strengthens Continental Peace Role as Lamola Leads AU Mission to Juba

South Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to African peace and stability as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola led a high-level African Union (AU) delegation to Juba, South Sudan, to assess progress on the country's fragile peace process. The visit forms part of ongoing continental efforts to support dialogue, stability and democratic transition ahead of key African Union meetings.During engagements with South Sudanese leadership and regional stakeholders, Lamola emphasised the importance of inclusive political processes, protection of civilians and adherence to peace agreements as foundations for long-term stability. The delegation's mission focused on evaluating developments on the ground and identifying areas where the AU and its partners can strengthen support to ensure that gains made in the peace process are not reversed.The visit underscores South Africa's continued role as a respected voice in African diplomacy. Government said the outcome of the engagement will contribute to shaping collective AU decisions on South Sudan, while reinforcing the broader principle that African challenges require African-led solutions grounded in dialogue, cooperation and shared responsibility.