South Sudan’s Vice President, Riek Machar, has accused Uganda of breaching a United Nations arms embargo by deploying armoured units and airstrikes within South Sudan. Machar’s accusations were outlined in a formal letter sent to the United Nations, the African Union, and the East African IGAD bloc, claiming that Uganda’s military actions contradicted a peace agreement signed in 2018 that ended a prolonged civil conflict.
Uganda, however, contends that its troop deployment in South Sudan earlier this month was made at the request of South Sudan’s government, which sought assistance following a breakdown in relations between Machar and President Salva Kiir. Tensions escalated in early March when South Sudanese security forces detained several senior figures from Machar’s faction after violent clashes erupted in the northeast of the country between the army and the White Army militia, a group the government accuses Machar of supporting.
Machar’s political party, the SPLM-IO, denies any active alliance with the White Army, which consists predominantly of armed ethnic Nuer fighters who had previously sided with Machar against Kiir’s mostly Dinka forces during the 2013-2018 civil war. The U.N. has expressed concerns that increasing ethnic-based hate speech could rekindle violence, potentially reigniting a broader conflict.
Uganda is worried that a full-scale conflict in South Sudan, a major oil producer, could lead to an influx of refugees and destabilize the region. Machar’s letter, dated March 23, condemned Uganda’s involvement in airstrikes against civilian areas and called for international pressure on Uganda to withdraw its forces.
While Uganda and South Sudan’s military spokespeople have yet to comment on the allegations regarding the arms embargo violation, Machar’s office has confirmed the authenticity of his letter. The South Sudanese army reportedly attacked SPLM-IO forces stationed near the capital, Juba, on the evening of March 24. Additionally, Machar’s office confirmed that four SPLM-IO officials were detained by intelligence agents in Lakes State, and their office in Rumbek was closed down.
Uganda’s parliament had retroactively approved the deployment of troops in South Sudan, with the decision being made public on March 11. Meanwhile, Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, made controversial remarks on social media, expressing frustration with the Nuer ethnic group and referring to the conflict with Machar’s faction. These posts, which were later deleted, have added fuel to the diplomatic tensions in the region.
