Regional Military Delegation Concludes Investigation into Kajo-Keji Clashes

(KAJO-KEJI) – A high level military delegation from the Great Lakes Region has concluded a fact finding mission in Kajo-Keji County aimed at resolving recent cross-border security tensions and protecting displaced communities.

The mission follows clashes on 28 July 2025 between the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in Bori Boma, which displaced over 16,000 people from their homes.

The delegation, drawn from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM), visited Kajo-Keji County on 25 August 2025. It engaged local authorities, security officials, religious and community leaders, and other stakeholders to gather information and promote dialogue.

The ICGLR brings together 12 member states: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. Its mission is to promote sustainable peace and security in the Great Lakes Region through coordinated regional efforts. The EJVM, established in 2012, monitors and investigates security incidents and cross-border disputes.

Before visiting the disputed border areas, the delegation attended a briefing at First Baptist Church, Kajo-Keji. Attendees included Hon. Wani Jackson Mule, Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County, Brigadier General Buri Henry, senior military and security officials, religious leaders, local chiefs and landlords. Participants emphasised the importance of dialogue, tension reduction and lasting peace for Kajo-Keji and the wider Great Lakes Region.

An elder, speaking anonymously, said, “Peace is not just an agreement on paper. It is the safety of our families, the dignity of our land and the future of our children.”

The delegation also met senior officials in Juba and the Governor of Central Equatoria State. Earlier, they had engaged Ugandan officials in Kampala and border authorities in Moyo and Yumbe districts.

During the briefing, Commissioner Wani Jackson Mule outlined the UPDF incursion into Nyainga-Muda village of Bori Boma on 28 July, which displaced over 2,900 households. He urged the ICGLR delegation to consider historical evidence of border encroachment, noting that Uganda’s post-independence maps from 1967 extended into South Sudanese territory, contrary to colonial-era boundaries.

Commissioner Wani called on the delegation to carefully review the evidence and recommend a lasting resolution. He also thanked the team for prioritising the incident and working toward a peaceful solution.

The fact finding mission included visits to military commands in Kampala and Juba, meetings with the Governor of Central Equatoria, and engagements with Ugandan authorities in Yumbe and Moyo districts.

The team also conducted on-site inspections of the disputed areas of Gbari, Afoji and Abaya. Delegation leaders indicated that their report would guide military and diplomatic measures to resolve the border tensions.

Displacement in Kajo-Keji County After 28 July 2025 Clashes