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First Vice-President Riek Machar warns that Uganda’s troop deployment threatens South Sudan’s fragile peace deal and calls for urgent international intervention
South Sudan’s First Vice-President, Dr. Riek Machar, has raised concerns about Uganda’s military presence in the country, warning that it could put the fragile 2018 peace agreement at risk. He has called on the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), and the regional bloc IGAD to step in and address the situation.
In a letter dated March 23, which was seen by Radio Tamazuj, Dr. Machar accused Uganda of sending troops into South Sudan without the approval of the country’s transitional government. According to him, this violates international agreements and undermines South Sudan’s sovereignty.
The letter was sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, AU Peace and Security Council Commissioner Bankole Adeoye, and IGAD Chairperson Ismail Omar Guelleh, who is also the President of Djibouti.
Dr. Machar, who is also the leader of the main opposition group, the SPLM/A-IO, pointed out that Uganda’s military involvement violates the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS). This agreement requires all foreign forces to leave South Sudan. He specifically referred to Articles 2.1.5 and 2.1.7 of the agreement, as well as a ceasefire deal signed in 2017.
Additionally, Machar accused Uganda of carrying out airstrikes in Upper Nile and Jonglei states, allegedly targeting civilians. However, Uganda’s government has not yet responded to these accusations.
Dr. Machar fears that Uganda’s actions could disrupt South Sudan’s already delayed transition to democracy. He has urged the UN Security Council, the AU, and IGAD to mediate and prevent further escalation of tensions.
“Uganda was one of the key guarantors of the peace agreement,” Machar wrote in his letter. “We expected President [Yoweri] Museveni to help implement the agreement, not undermine it.”
Uganda first sent troops to South Sudan in 2014 under an agreement with the previous government. However, Machar argues that the current transitional government never ratified that agreement, meaning Uganda’s military presence is unlawful under the terms of the 2018 peace deal.
The situation raises additional concerns because South Sudan has been under a UN arms embargo since 2018. This restriction limits the flow of weapons into the country, yet Uganda’s troops reportedly entered South Sudan with heavy weaponry, raising questions about how this was allowed to happen.
Two weeks ago, Uganda deployed special forces in South Sudan, fueling fears that the country could be on the verge of renewed conflict.
Uganda’s military leadership has defended the deployment, claiming the troops were sent to help “secure” the capital, Juba, and to “support” President Salva Kiir’s government. However, tensions between President Kiir and Dr. Machar have been rising as their power-sharing agreement struggles to hold. There have even been reports of clashes between forces loyal to the two leaders.
With South Sudan still recovering from years of civil war, there are growing concerns that these tensions, combined with Uganda’s involvement, could push the country back into conflict.
Dr. Machar’s call for international intervention highlights the urgency of the situation. Many South Sudanese citizens and observers fear that without swift action, the fragile peace agreement could collapse, leading to further instability in the region.