30/07/2025
Breaking News: Tanzania Warns Uganda Against Provoking War with South Sudan
Regional Leaders Urge Kampala to Halt Encroachment and Respect Sovereignty
Juba, South Sudan – Tensions are mounting in the East African region as Tanzania has issued a strong warning to the Ugandan government, urging President Yoweri Museveni to immediately halt what it described as a “slow and calculated territorial encroachment” into South Sudan.
The warning follows growing concern from regional leaders over repeated incidents involving the Ugandan army reportedly crossing into South Sudanese territory since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005. These incursions, often met with non-violent restraint by the South Sudanese forces, have nonetheless led to alarming exchanges of gunfire—resulting in casualties among both South Sudanese soldiers and civilians.
Despite these violations, the Government of South Sudan has historically downplayed the incidents, referring to them as "misunderstandings between two brotherly armies." This diplomatic stance, however, is increasingly being questioned as incursions continue and intensify.
Ironically, Uganda has been a longstanding partner in regional peace efforts. At the request of the South Sudanese government, Ugandan troops have been invited in previous years to assist in defending the fragile government in Juba, protecting key infrastructure, and preventing the spread of violence during periods of civil unrest. Their presence was widely seen as stabilizing, with many praising Uganda’s commitment to defending democracy in the region.
However, accusations are now surfacing that Uganda has exploited this position to expand its influence—gradually occupying disputed border areas, pushing South Sudanese residents off their land, and allowing Ugandan citizens to settle in those regions.
Frustrated by Kampala's lack of accountability, several East African nations—most notably Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe—are stepping in to call for restraint. In a joint regional security dialogue held in Arusha last week, Tanzanian officials expressed concern that Uganda's actions risk sparking a broader conflict that could destabilize the entire East African Community (EAC).
“We urge our brothers in Uganda to cease all activities that threaten the territorial integrity of South Sudan,” a senior Tanzanian diplomat said. “When you are invited to help restore peace, it is not an opportunity to seize land. It is a call to protect—not provoke.”
Zimbabwean and Rwandan envoys echoed the sentiment, warning that any form of territorial expansion under the guise of peacekeeping undermines the trust and cooperation necessary for regional stability.
Calls are growing louder for President Museveni to publicly clarify Uganda’s position and to withdraw troops and settlers from contested zones along the South Sudan-Uganda border. Regional leaders warn that failure to act swiftly could escalate tensions into a full-scale border conflict—one that neither country nor the East African region can afford.
With the geopolitical stakes high and the situation rapidly evolving, all eyes now turn to Kampala and Juba, hoping diplomacy will prevail over force.