Juba – Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, one of the guarantors of the 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war, held closed-door talks with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Thursday. It remains unclear whether he will meet opposition leader Riek Machar, who is under house arrest. South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ramadan Mohammed Abdullah Goc stated that the country’s leadership reassured Museveni of their commitment to implementing the peace agreement.
The talks come against the backdrop of what has been described as “serious” developments in South Sudan. The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by Riek Machar, declared the collapse of the 2018 peace agreement. Museveni is a key guarantor of this agreement.
According to the Associated Press, Museveni was expected to meet South Sudanese officials during his visit to Juba. Meanwhile, the United Nations expressed concern about a potential return to civil war following Machar’s house arrest.
Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Malimba John, stated: “We had a friendly meeting addressing issues of mutual benefit between our two governments. We discussed peace and security not only in South Sudan but across the region. The stability of South Sudan is crucial for the entire East African region.”
Museveni’s visit followed mediation efforts earlier this week by the African Union and the East African Community aimed at defusing the crisis. The political situation in South Sudan remains uncertain, with recent violence between government forces and armed groups allied with the opposition escalating tensions.
Last month, Uganda deployed troops to South Sudan to support Kiir’s government—a move criticized by SPLM-IO, whose leader Riek Machar remains under house arrest on charges of incitement. Uganda views its military intervention as essential for regional stability and preventing further chaos in South Sudan. However, the opposition accuses Uganda of bolstering Kiir’s grip on power.
On March 27, SPLM-IO announced the collapse of the peace agreement following Machar’s detention. Party Vice President Oyet Nathaniel Pierino stated that the agreement had been “nullified,” citing Machar’s arrest as evidence of a lack of political will for peace and stability.
The United Nations has warned that South Sudan is on the brink of another civil war, particularly after clashes in northern regions between government forces and armed groups loyal to Machar. The African Union’s Peace and Security Council called for Machar’s “immediate and unconditional release,” warning that recent developments jeopardize the peace deal.
The 2013–2018 civil war in South Sudan claimed 400,000 lives and displaced millions before ending with a peace agreement that established a unity government led by Kiir and Machar. However, Kiir appears intent on sidelining Machar to maintain his hold on power.
