African Union mediators arrived in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Wednesday in an urgent diplomatic effort to salvage the 2018 peace agreement, amid rising political tensions within the country.

The visit follows the controversial house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar last week, a move that has raised fears of the peace deal’s potential collapse and renewed instability.

Diplomatic sources say the delegation will hold talks with President Salva Kiir, opposition figures, and civil society leaders in an attempt to calm the crisis and prevent a relapse into conflict.

The fragile peace accord remains the cornerstone of South Sudan’s transitional period after years of devastating civil war. International and regional actors have emphasized the need for all parties to uphold the agreement and pursue dialogue to preserve national stability.