President Museveni urges inclusive dialogue to stabilize South Sudan

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni (right) shakes hands with H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa, at Nakasero State Lodge on Tuesday. The two leaders greeted each other before holding high-level talks on the importance of political dialogue to stabilize South Sudan. — Photo Credit: [PPU]

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has called for renewed political dialogue among South Sudanese parties, emphasizing that stability in the neighboring country is a prerequisite for regional security and economic prosperity.

The President made the remarks on Tuesday evening at Nakasero State Lodge following a high-level consultative meeting with former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who currently serves as the African Union (AU) High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.

During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed the ongoing political and security situation in South Sudan. President Museveni reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to mediating peace efforts, noting the direct impact of the conflict on Ugandan citizens and the broader East African Community (EAC).

“We discussed the situation in South Sudan and emphasized the importance of dialogue among the parties,” President Museveni stated via his official social media platform.

“Uganda will continue supporting peace efforts as stability in South Sudan, especially in the Equatoria region where many Ugandans live, is important for regional security and prosperity.”

The visit by Jakaya Kikwete comes at a critical juncture for the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement. As the AU’s lead envoy for the region, Kikwete is expected to facilitate talks between the various signatories to resolve outstanding issues related to security arrangements and the electoral roadmap.

The mention of the Equatoria region underscores persistent concerns regarding cross-border security and trade. Thousands of Ugandans reside and conduct business in the Equatorias, a region that has faced sporadic instability affecting the main trade artery between Juba and Kampala.

The Kampala meeting signals a coordinated effort between Uganda and the African Union to prevent a breakdown in the peace process. By seeking Museveni’s “wise counsel,” the AU delegation aims to leverage Uganda’s long-standing role as a guarantor of the peace deal to push for more inclusive governance and an end to communal violence.

The AU envoy is scheduled to proceed to Juba for further engagements with South Sudanese leadership to advance the implementation of the peace declaration recently endorsed by regional heads of state.

Last month, a U.S. lawmaker characterized the Ugandan government as an ‘exporter of instability,’ citing concerns over a controversial electoral process.

In a statement published by the Foreign Relations Committee website, the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch, issued a scathing critique of the recent Ugandan elections, which saw President Yoweri Museveni secure a seventh term. While the statement focused on the erosion of democracy in Kampala, it carried significant implications for Juba’s security and sovereignty.