Juba: South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and Ugandan Chief of Defense Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba have held talks focused on strengthening regional stability.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the meeting took place in Juba to address tensions following deadly clashes along their shared border earlier this month. The Ugandan military released a statement highlighting that President Kiir expressed his appreciation for Uganda’s role in maintaining peace in South Sudan.
Uganda has deployed troops in South Sudan at the request of the South Sudanese government following clashes between rebel forces and government troops. Kainerugaba affirmed Uganda’s commitment to fostering stronger ties with South Sudan.
After discussions with Kiir, Kainerugaba visited the tactical headquarters of Operation Mlinzi Wa Kimya, which translates to “Silent Guardian.” During his visit, he interacted with Ugandan troops and commanders overseeing the mission, emphasizing the growing military and security partnership between Kampala and Juba.
The meeting followed an incident where at least four soldiers were killed during clashes between Ugandan and South Sudanese troops at a disputed border area. The two countries have yet to resolve the land dispute involving Uganda’s Yumbe and Moyo districts and South Sudan’s Kajo-Keji area.
Uganda and South Sudan have established a working committee to address ongoing tensions in the border area. This committee aims to manage confrontations between the two militaries and address diplomatic concerns that arise from these disputes.