JK, Ruto hold talks in renewed efforts to restore stability in South Sudan

NAIROBI: THE Former Tanzanian President, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, has intensified regional efforts to restore stability in South Sudan after holding high-level talks with William Ruto in Nairobi on Thursday, April 17, 2026.

Dr Kikwete, who serves as the African Union Chairperson’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, used the meeting to push forward dialogue on the fragile peace process in South Sudan, with a particular focus on Kenya’s role in mediating the protracted conflict.

The leaders’ discussions highlighted ongoing initiatives led by Kenya, including the Tumaini Peace Initiative, which seeks to bring on board political and armed groups that declined to sign the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

The Nairobi engagement marks a continuation of Dr Kikwete’s diplomatic offensive since his appointment as a regional peace envoy. In recent weeks, he has held consultations with key African leaders, including Cyril Ramaphosa and Yoweri Museveni, as part of a coordinated push to stabilise South Sudan.

Dr Kikwete has also visited South Sudan, where he met with major stakeholders across the political and military spectrum to forge a consensus on a sustainable roadmap for peace.

South Sudan, Africa’s youngest nation, continues to grapple with recurring instability despite multiple peace agreements, underscoring the urgency of renewed regional mediation efforts.