South Sudan and Uganda to Launch Joint Probe into Deadly Border Clashes
South Sudan and Uganda have agreed to conduct a joint investigation into recent violent confrontations along their shared border, which resulted in six fatalities, the South Sudanese military announced Sunday.
The clashes, which occurred last month in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state, involved forces from the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and South Sudanese troops. The skirmishes left five South Sudanese security personnel and one Ugandan soldier dead. The exact cause of the violence remains disputed, with conflicting accounts from both sides.
Major General Lul Ruai Koang, spokesperson for the South Sudanese army, stated that Ugandan army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba met with his South Sudanese counterpart to discuss urgent measures to de-escalate tensions along the border. Koang confirmed the formation of a 14-member committee, equally composed of representatives from both militaries, tasked with determining the precise origins of the clashes. This announcement was made via a statement on the South Sudanese army’s official Facebook page.
Kainerugaba, who is also the son and designated successor of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, arrived in Juba on Saturday. During his visit, he held talks with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations and promoting regional stability, according to a UPDF press release.
Uganda has maintained a significant military presence in South Sudan since the outbreak of civil war in 2013, shortly after South Sudan’s independence from Sudan in 2011. Uganda’s forces have supported President Kiir against his rival, former Vice President Riek Machar, throughout the conflict, which lasted five years and resulted in approximately 400,000 deaths before a 2018 power-sharing agreement was established.
In March 2024, Uganda redeployed special forces to South Sudan amid renewed tensions as Kiir intensified actions against Machar, culminating in Machar’s house arrest. This move effectively undermined the power-sharing deal and sparked clashes between government troops and militias aligned with Machar’s Nuer ethnic group.
Local media reports have accused the Ugandan military of deploying chemical weapons, specifically barrel bombs containing flammable substances, against Nuer militias in northeastern South Sudan, causing civilian casualties. Uganda has categorically denied these allegations.
The joint investigation aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding the recent border violence and prevent further escalation between the two neighboring countries.
