South Africa will continue to support the Republic of South Sudan in its efforts for peace, democracy and development.

This according to a statement by the Presidency on Wednesday.

The statement follows an announcement by the government of South Sudan regarding the extension of its transitional period for a further two years.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted the statement by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan extending the country’s transitional period by another two years. This effectively postpones the national elections initially due to take place on 22 December 2024.

“According to the announcement, the postponement is intended to provide time and space for the implementation of the remaining provisions of the 2018 Revitalised Agreement to the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan [R-ARCSS],” the Presidency said.

The statement said President Ramaphosa “commends the Parties to the R-ARCSS for arriving at the decision by consensus, which bodes well for the implementation of the remainder of the provisions of the R-ARCSS”.

“To this end, President Ramaphosa calls on South Sudanese Parties and the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity [RTGoNU] to spare no effort in implementing the outstanding provisions of the R-ARCSS and to maintain the peaceful atmosphere that has existed since September 2018,” the Presidency said.

“President Ramaphosa further calls on the RTGoNU to allocate the necessary resources for the effective functioning of statutory institutions mandated to deliver free and fair elections,” the statement read.

The President also called on the East African bloc, the East African Community (EAC) and the international community to “continue to support the Government and people of South Sudan in their search for lasting peace and democracy”.

“For its part, South Africa will continue to support South Sudan to realise the ideals for peace, democracy and development,” the Presidency concluded.