South Sudan accuses Uganda of illegal military deployment, demands immediate withdrawal

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN — South Sudan’s First Vice President, Riek Machar, has launched a formal complaint accusing Uganda of violating international agreements by deploying its military forces within the country, demanding their immediate withdrawal.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Machar alleges that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) deployment constitutes a serious breach of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians, and Humanitarian Access (COHA).

He further accuses the UPDF, equipped with armored and air force units, of conducting airstrikes against civilian populations in Nasir, Longechuk, and Ulang in Upper Nile State, and Akobo County in Jonglei State.

“The presence of the Ugandan military shall impede the process of the transition to democracy. The country cannot afford any kind of violence; our people have suffered for too long,” Machar stated in his letter.

This escalation of tensions arises amidst deepening disagreements between Machar and President Salva Kiir over the implementation of the peace process. Key points of contention include control of security forces, allocation of government positions, and the integration of armed forces into a unified national army, as mandated by the R-ARCSS.

Machar also expresses concern that his faction’s demands are being disregarded, which endangers the already fragile peace. In early March, President Kiir’s order to arrest Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and several senior military officials aligned with Machar heightened the discord.

These arrests followed recent intense fighting in the strategic northern town of Nasir between national forces and the White Army militia, comprised primarily of armed Nuer, Machar’s ethnic group.

Machar’s spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang, reported that Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and Deputy Chief of the Army Gabriel Doup Lam were arrested, with other senior military officials allied with Machar placed under house arrest.

On March 7, President Kiir called for calm following an attack on a military base in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, resulting in the death of General Majur Dak Thel and several officers. Kiir accused Machar of orchestrating the attack and directing his troops to shoot down a UN mission helicopter dispatched to rescue besieged soldiers.

On March 10, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, announced the UPDF’s deployment to South Sudan, under the code name, “Operation ‘Mlinzi wa Kimya’,” catching South Sudan’s parliament and a section of government officials off-guard. “UPDF Commandos arriving in Juba to support South Sudan People’s Defence Forces in the current crisis,” Gen Muhoozi said.

Machar argues that Uganda’s military intervention is a direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2428 (2018), which imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan, and was recently extended by Resolution 2731 (2024).

He stresses that Uganda’s military presence undermines ongoing peace efforts and destabilizes the region. Furthermore, Machar asserts that the intervention lacks the approval of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU), rendering the original Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed in 2014 invalid.

Machar has called upon the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the UN Security Council (UNSC) to urgently intervene and pressure Uganda to withdraw its forces, warning that continued intervention risks the collapse of the peace agreement and the escalation of violence.

While Uganda has not officially responded to these accusations, its government has historically justified its military presence in South Sudan as essential for regional stability. However, General Muhoozi’s social media posts on tuesday, that included the phrase “SPLA-IO is about to be annihilated,” along with a video showing military air strikes, indicates that Uganda is actively engaged in combat.