SOUTH SUDAN Ugandan President Arrives Juba For Bilateral Talks With President Salva Kiir Amid Rising Tensions

By Debora Akur Chol, South Sudan

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni arrived in Juba on Thursday for high-level talks with South Sudanese leader President Salva Kiir, as tensions continue to rise in South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation.

The visit is seen as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations and address the ongoing crisis in South Sudan, which has attracted international concern following the house arrest of First Vice President and opposition leader, Dr. Riek Machar.

Museveni was warmly received by President Kiir at Juba International Airport for what officials have described as a “working visit.”:

“I look forward to our discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between our two nations.”Musevini said

President Museveni has played a crucial role in regional peace efforts, notably mediating the 2018 peace agreement that ended South Sudan’s devastating civil war. However, Uganda’s recent military involvement in South Sudan has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who accuse Kampala of interfering in the country’s internal affairs.

This visit comes as tensions in South Sudan intensify following the detention of Machar and several of his allies. Their arrest has sparked protests and violent clashes in areas such as Rejaf, Wunaliet, and Upper Nile State. The South Sudanese government has accused Machar of attempting to incite a rebellion, though his supporters vehemently deny the claims.

International bodies, including the United Nations, the African Union, and various regional leaders, have condemned Machar’s detention, warning that it could threaten the fragile peace in South Sudan.

In the midst of this unrest, South Sudan’s government has sought military assistance from Uganda. Uganda’s Defence Minister Jacob Oboth revealed that President Kiir made an urgent request for support on March 10 to prevent a security breakdown. He stated that, in response, the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) had been deployed on a peace enforcement mission to help stabilize the situation. Minister Oboth justified the deployment as consistent with Uganda’s core values of patriotism and Pan-African solidarity.

Museveni’s visit follows a diplomatic mission led by Kenya’s special envoy, Raila Odinga, who met with President Kiir last week. Odinga reportedly requested to meet with Machar but claimed that Kiir had referred him to Museveni. However, South Sudan’s presidential press secretary, David Amuor Majur, rejected this assertion, emphasizing that Odinga’s mission had been pre-arranged and not directed by President Kiir.

“The suggestion that His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit requested Right Honourable Raila Odinga to meet the President of Uganda misrepresents diplomatic principles,” Majur stated in a Monday briefing. “It is essential to clarify that the Right Honourable Odinga’s mission to Uganda was pre-arranged and not at the direction of President Kiir.”

As the situation in South Sudan remains volatile, all eyes are on the outcome of Museveni’s talks with Kiir, hoping for a path toward stabilization and peace.