South Sudan: Ugandan President Museveni visits Juba amid rising tensions

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni arrived in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Thursday April 3 for a brief visit, as tensions escalate in the country.

His arrival follows the recent arrest of Riek Machar, one of South Sudan’s vice presidents, which has raised concerns about the fragile peace that has held since the country’s brutal civil war.
Upon arrival, Museveni held a private meeting with President Salva Kiir. The meeting details have not been made public.

Museveni’s visit comes at a critical moment, as political instability in South Sudan has been intensifying in recent weeks and as calls have been mounting for diplomatic intervention to resolve the political crisis.

The visit reflects broader regional concerns about the stability of South Sudan, with the international community closely monitoring developments as fears grow over the potential collapse of the peace agreement and a return to civil conflict.

The African Union also dispatched mediators to Juba to assess the situation and attempt to prevent a slide back into full-scale war.

Machar’s political group has claimed that the 2018 peace agreement, which has served as the foundation for the country’s tentative stability, is effectively no longer valid. This has fueled fears of a resurgence of violence, as government forces loyal to President Kiir face off against troops and militia aligned with Machar. The arrest of Machar, a key figure in the peace process, has further undermined the already fragile political situation, prompting international concern over the potential for renewed conflict.