Uganda and South Sudan Military Leaders Meet After Border Clashes

(JUBA COUNTY) – Senior military officials from Uganda and South Sudan have held high level talks in Juba aimed at de-escalating tensions and strengthening cooperation following deadly border clashes between the two nations.

According to Uganda’s army spokesperson Felix Kulayigye, the meeting took place on Saturday and brought together Uganda’s Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sam Okiding, and South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) Chief, General Dau Aturjong Nyuol.

Speaking by telephone to Xinhua news agency, Kulayigye said the meeting was part of ongoing diplomatic and military engagements designed to improve coordination, resolve misunderstandings and prevent further confrontations.

“The two leaders discussed various issues. It is part of the broader efforts to improve bilateral military cooperation,” he said.

The talks came just days after a deadly confrontation between troops from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and SSPDF in contested areas along the border, including Fitina Mabaya and Goboro.

These areas lie between Uganda’s Yumbe District in the north-west and South Sudan’s Kajo-Keji County in Central Equatoria. The clashes resulted in casualties on both sides, though the exact numbers were not disclosed.

In a separate statement issued on Monday, the Ugandan military confirmed the Juba meeting and stated that Lt. Gen. Okiding expressed appreciation for the SSPDF’s cooperation and efforts to preserve a strong relationship between the two armies.

SSPDF chief Gen. Nyuol also reaffirmed his country’s commitment to peaceful engagement with Uganda.

“No one can separate us because we share a lot historically,” he said, referencing cultural and historical ties between the neighbouring nations.

He pledged continued collaboration to promote regional peace and security.

Both Uganda and South Sudan have now agreed to form a joint working committee to address ongoing tensions along the border, where intermittent standoffs between patrol units from both countries have in recent years raised concerns over the risk of escalation.

The South Sudan-Uganda border has long been a source of disputes, often rooted in overlapping territorial claims, unclear demarcations, and armed movements. However, both governments have reiterated their commitment to resolving differences through peaceful and diplomatic means.

The latest talks are being welcomed by local observers and analysts as a positive step towards preventing further violence and stabilising cross-border relations at a time when regional security remains fragile elsewhere  in DRC, Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan.