South Sudan’s President Kiir Attends AU Assembly Amid Ongoing Political Transition. ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — February 13, 2026 — South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir arrived in Addis Ababa on Friday to participate in the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly. His presence underscores the nation’s ongoing efforts to secure regional support as it grapples with the challenges of implementing its peace deal and managing internal security concerns.
Kiir’s arrival at Bole International Airport was marked by a ceremonial welcome, with Ethiopia’s Minister of Mines, Habtamu Tegegn, and South Sudan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Baak Valentino Wol, present to greet him.
The summit, held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, focuses on sustainable water management and sanitation under Africa’s long-term development blueprint, the African Union Agenda 2063.
However, it is widely anticipated that South Sudan’s protracted political transition will be a central topic of discussion among regional leaders.
According to the presidency, Kiir is accompanied by a senior delegation and is scheduled to engage in bilateral meetings with other heads of state. These discussions are expected to revolve around resolving the political deadlock in Juba, stabilizing the security environment, and expediting preparations for the long-delayed national elections. Kiir is also set to participate in consultations of the AU’s C5 Committee, which is chaired by Cyril Ramaphosa.
This committee plays a pivotal role as a group of regional guarantors overseeing South Sudan’s 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement and has been instrumental in mobilizing diplomatic and financial support for its implementation.
The Addis Ababa meetings come at a critical time for South Sudan, where delays in security sector reforms, electoral preparations, and constitutional processes have garnered increasing attention from international partners. For Kiir, the AU summit represents both a diplomatic challenge and an opportunity to reinforce continental backing as his government faces intensifying calls to fulfill its peace commitments.
Further details regarding the outcomes of these discussions are expected in the coming days.
