JUBA, South Sudan (BN24) — Deadly border clashes between South Sudan and Uganda have left at least six people dead, officials said Tuesday, marking a violent flare-up between the neighboring nations and longstanding allies.
The exchange of fire took place Monday in South Sudan’s Kajo Keji County, near the disputed boundary line separating the two countries. South Sudanese authorities reported that five soldiers from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) were killed when Ugandan troops launched what they described as a surprise attack supported by tanks and artillery.
Uganda’s military confirmed the incident, saying that South Sudanese soldiers had crossed into Uganda’s West Nile region and refused to withdraw, prompting the confrontation. One Ugandan soldier was also killed in the clash, according to Ugandan army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye.
Though South Sudan and Uganda have historically maintained strong military ties—Uganda supported President Salva Kiir’s government during the country’s long independence struggle and its subsequent civil war—tensions over their ill-defined border have occasionally led to armed encounters.
The skirmish, while not unprecedented, underscores the fragility of peace along a boundary where disputes over land and jurisdiction have remained unresolved for years.
A statement from Kajo Keji County accused Ugandan forces of crossing into South Sudanese territory without provocation. The SSPDF confirmed the border clash but did not specify casualty figures. The attack reportedly involved heavy weaponry and caught South Sudanese forces off-guard.
SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said a joint border committee—already in place between the two countries—will be tasked with investigating the incident and seeking a peaceful resolution to avoid further escalation.
“The committee will convene to assess the latest incident and ensure mechanisms are put in place to prevent future occurrences,” Koang said in a statement issued late Tuesday.
Despite the tensions, bilateral security ties have remained intact. In March, South Sudan formally invited Uganda’s military to assist with bolstering stability in the capital, Juba, amid renewed friction between President Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar.
Both governments have yet to issue high-level diplomatic statements in response to the most recent violence.
