Machar Calls for UN Action Over Ugandan Troops in South Sudan

(Juba) – South Sudan’s First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, has called for urgent international intervention, warning that foreign military presence in the country could destabilize the fragile peace agreement.

In a letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Machar questioned the legitimacy of Ugandan troops stationed in South Sudan, arguing that their deployment violates the 2018 peace deal and a United Nations arms embargo. Copies of the letter were also sent to Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), and Ismail Omar Guelleh, Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

According to Machar, Uganda deployed heavily armed forces, including armored vehicles and air units, in direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2428, which extended an arms embargo on South Sudan in May 2024. He accused Ugandan forces of conducting airstrikes against civilians in Longechuk, Nasir, and Ulang in Upper Nile State, as well as Akobo County in Jonglei State.

The issue gained prominence after violent clashes erupted in Nasir on March 4 between South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and armed local youths. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of an army commander and a United Nations pilot during an evacuation operation.

Uganda’s Justification and Machar’s Objection

South Sudan’s Minister of Information, Michael Makuei, confirmed on March 17 that Ugandan troops are stationed in Juba. He explained that their presence is based on a longstanding military agreement between the two countries, originally established for joint operations against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

However, Machar argued that the current transitional government never signed the military pact, making the deployment unlawful under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). He cited articles 2.1.5 and 2.1.7 of the agreement, which mandate the withdrawal of all non-South Sudanese armed groups during the pre-transitional period.

Machar warned that continued Ugandan military intervention could derail the peace process and delay South Sudan’s transition to democracy. He called on Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to act as an IGAD guarantor rather than intervene militarily.

Machar’s Appeal to the International Community

Machar urged the African Union, IGAD, and the UN Security Council to press Uganda for an immediate troop withdrawal. He emphasized that the presence of foreign forces could reignite conflict and potentially collapse the peace agreement.

“The R-ARCSS is facing serious challenges,” Machar stated in his letter. “There is fear from our past that these challenges, including Ugandan intervention, may lead to the collapse of the agreement.”

Despite these concerns, Machar reaffirmed his commitment to peaceful negotiations and the full implementation of the R-ARCSS.