As South Sudan’s peace pact collapses, mediators try again 

South Sudan peace mediators led by retired Lt-Gen Lazarus Sumbeiywo (second left) during Tumaini peace talks in Nairobi on May 16, 2024.

Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group

Regional leaders will gather in Nairobi this week to push for a fresh peace deal in South Sudan, signalling the effective collapse of the 2018 accord meant to stabilise Africa’s youngest nation. 

The move follows repeated extensions of the agreement, marked by delays, missed deadlines and renewed fighting among its original signatories to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).