(JUBA) – The African Union (AU) has urged the United Nations Security Council to ease the arms embargo on South Sudan, saying the move would help the transitional government speed up the unification of national forces.
The appeal was made in a communiqué issued on 15 August 2025 by the AU Peace and Security Council, which argued that lifting the restrictions could strengthen the security situation and support the peace process.
The AU also called on international partners to lift sanctions imposed on South Sudan, stressing that these measures hinder the implementation of key parts of the 2018 peace agreement.
At the same time, the AU raised alarm over worsening humanitarian conditions in the country, pointing to food insecurity, population displacement and shrinking humanitarian access.
It appealed to partners, aid agencies, and member states able to sustain humanitarian support to step up assistance. The AU further reminded South Sudanese authorities of their responsibility to ensure the safety of aid workers and civilians, noting that sporadic incidents of intercommunal violence remain a threat to stability.
The continental body urged the unity government to address these outbreaks of violence and work towards tackling the deeper causes of conflict through inclusive dialogue and reconciliation efforts. It also called for the preparation of a clear electoral roadmap with benchmarks ahead of elections scheduled for December 2026.
The AU also expressed concern over the continued detention of First Vice President Dr Riek Machar, warning that the political standoff risks derailing the fragile transition. It pressed for the unconditional release of Machar and other political detainees, adding that if there is evidence against them, due process must be followed under judicial safeguards.
In its appeal, the AU encouraged parties to engage in high level dialogue, with support from the AU Commission, as the best way to resolve political differences. It emphasised that urgent steps must be taken to ease political tensions before the situation worsens, stressing that the focus should be on preventing renewed conflict and ensuring the peace agreement is fully implemented.
Meanwhile, human rights groups have cautioned against lifting the arms embargo. Nyagoah Tut Pur, a researcher with Human Rights Watch (HRW), said maintaining the restrictions is vital for protecting civilians. HRW argues that lifting the embargo now could worsen insecurity, citing rising intercommunal violence in Jonglei, Greater Pibor, Warrap, and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states.
According to HRW, this violence has become more organised, with political actors allegedly fuelling grievances and arming communities, resulting in hundreds of deaths, thousands displaced, and attacks on health centres, schools, and aid workers. Three aid workers were killed in 2021 alone.
HRW has also highlighted abuses by the National Security Service, including suppression of critics. The organisation insists that instead of ending the embargo, the UN should push South Sudan’s government to manage its weapons stockpiles more effectively and hold those supplying arms to civilians accountable.
The rights group said discussions on lifting the embargo should depend on measurable progress in human rights and humanitarian conditions. These should include accountability for attacks on civilians and aid workers, reform of the National Security Service, and establishment of the long delayed Hybrid Court for South Sudan in partnership with the AU.
HRW further called for the protection of civic space during constitution making, truth and reconciliation processes, and preparations for elections. The organisation concluded that abuses remain widespread and argued that the embargo, as well as sanctions on individuals, should remain in place.
