Museveni in Juba to cool tensions as South Sudan teeters on brink of civil war
Behind the diplomatic language lies a tense and rapidly deteriorating political crisis that risks dragging the region back into conflict.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni arrived in Juba on Thursday for what his office has described as "bilateral talks" with South Sudan's President Salva Kiir.
However, behind the diplomatic language lies a tense and rapidly deteriorating political crisis that risks dragging the region back into conflict.
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Sources familiar with the visit indicate Museveni is seeking to bolster ongoing African Union (AU) and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediation efforts.
His primary goal is to de-escalate tensions between President Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar—longtime political rivals whose fragile unity has been severely tested in recent weeks.
The timing of Museveni's visit is critical.
South Sudan, which emerged from a brutal five-year civil war in 2018, is once again showing signs of political unraveling.
Sporadic clashes have erupted in parts of the country, and fears are mounting that the hard-won peace agreement may be collapsing.
House arrest
Matters escalated dramatically after Kiir's government placed Machar under house arrest, alongside members of his family, two cabinet ministers, and several senior military officials affiliated with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).
The detentions have triggered international concern and raised fresh doubts about Juba's commitment to the peace deal.
Complicating matters further is Museveni's decision to deploy Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) special units into South Sudan—ostensibly to protect Uganda's national interests and its citizens.
While Kampala maintains this is a precautionary move, critics argue the deployment risks being perceived as taking sides in South Sudan's internal power struggle.
Uganda's influence in South Sudan is deep, both economically and militarily, and Museveni has long been seen as a key regional backer of President Kiir.
Analysts view the current flare-up as a critical test for both the AU and IGAD, whose credibility in resolving continental conflicts has come under increased scrutiny.
What remains clear is that South Sudan's fragile peace is under severe strain.
This is not the first time Museveni has stepped into South Sudan's affairs.
His forces previously intervened at the height of the civil war to support Kiir's government against rebel factions.
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