Leave Our Soil
By Our Writer
Juba
The South Sudan first Vice President , Dr Riek Machar has accused Uganda of violating international agreements by deploying its military forces into the restive nation.
In a strongly worded letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres seen by Nile Post, Machar claimed that Uganda’s military intervention constitutes a grave 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 alleged that Ugandan forces, equipped with armoured and air force units, have engaged in airstrikes against civilians 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 said in the letter.
In early 2025, Machar fell out with President Salva Kiir over disagreements on the peace implementation process.
Key issues included control of security forces, the allocation of government positions, and the failure to integrate armed forces into a unified national army, as outlined in the R-ARCSS.
Machar expressed concerns that his faction’s demands were being ignored, undermining the peace process.
In early March, Kiir ordered the arrest of petroleum minister and several senior military officials allied with Machar.
The arrests follow intense fighting in recent weeks in the strategic northern town of Nasir between national forces and the White Army militia, a loosely-organised group mostly comprising armed Nuer, Machar’s ethnic group.
The White Army fought alongside Machar’s forces in the 2013-2018 civil war that pitted them against predominantly ethnic Dinka troops loyal to President Kiir.
Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, who hails from Nasir, and the deputy head of the army Gabriel Doup Lam were arrested, while all other senior military officials allied with Machar were placed under house arrest, said Machar’s spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang.
On March 7, President Kiir called for calm after an attack on a military base in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, killed General Majur Dak Thel and several officers.
Kiir accused Machar of carrying out the attack and also ordering his troops to shoot down a UN mission helicopter dispatched to rescue the besieged soldiers.
On March 10, the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced that the UPDF had deployed into South Sudan, catching Parliament and a section of government officials in South Sudan unawares.
“UPDF Commandos arriving in Juba to support South Sudan People’s Defence Forces in the current crisis,” Gen Muhoozi said. “Operation ‘Mlinzi wa Kimya’ has begun.”
But Machar accused Uganda of violating UN Security Council Resolution 2428 (2018), which imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan, recently extended by Resolution 2731 (2024).
According to Media outlets including the Nilepost,, he insisted that Uganda’s military presence undermines peace efforts and threatens the stability of South Sudan.
The Ugandan military intervention, Machar argued, is not backed by the current government under the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU).
He pointed out that the original Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), signed between Uganda and South Sudan in 2014, is no longer valid under the revitalized peace framework.
Machar urged the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the UN Security Council (UNSC) to intervene and pressure Uganda to withdraw its forces.
He warned that continued military intervention could lead to the collapse of the fragile peace agreement and escalate violence in the country.
Uganda has yet to officially respond to Machar’s accusations. However, the Ugandan government has historically justified its military presence in South Sudan as a means of ensuring regional stability and security.
Some of Machar’s allegations may hold weight, as CDF Muhoozi tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that the SPLA-IO is about to be annihilated, praising the Ugandan Air Force for its successful destruction of enemy positions.
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