South Sudan on Edge: Confusion and tensions spark fears of renewed conflict

Rumors of Ugandan troops entering South Sudan’s capital, Juba, have ignited a storm of confusion and unease. While Uganda’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, boldly declared on social media that his forces were there to “secure” the city for President Salva Kiir, South Sudan’s government swiftly denied the claims.

Information Minister Michael Makuei insisted no Ugandan soldiers were present, leaving the truth shrouded in uncertainty.

The conflicting narratives unfold against a backdrop of rising tensions between Kiir and his deputy, Riek Machar, whose fragile peace deal teeters on the brink of collapse.

Recent arrests of Machar’s allies, including the deputy army chief and two ministers, have further strained relations, with opposition figures decrying the moves as a breach of the 2018 agreement.

Meanwhile, clashes in Upper Nile state between government forces and the White Army—a militia tied to Machar—have reignited fears of a return to the brutal civil war that devastated the nation a decade ago.

That conflict, born of a power struggle between Kiir and Machar, claimed over 400,000 lives and displaced millions.

With the US evacuating non-essential staff and key peace deal provisions like elections and army unification still stalled, South Sudan stands at a precarious crossroads. The world watches, hoping diplomacy prevails over the spectre of war.