By Kei Emmanuel Duku
First Vice President and SPLM/A-IO Leader Dr. Riek Machar has called for immediate withdrawal of Ugandan military troops from South Sudan.
Dr. Machar asserts that the presence of the UPDF poses a significant threat to the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
His demand follows government spokesperson Michael Makuei’s confirmation of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) deployment, citing a 2014 Status Forces Agreement between the two nations, pre-dating the 2018 peace deal.
Dr. Machar has urged global leaders to intervene, arguing that the Ugandan presence impedes South Sudan’s transition to democratic elections and violates key provisions of the Agreement to Resolve Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and the Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians, and Humanitarian Access (COHA).
“The R-ARCSS is faced with serious challenges, there is fear from our part that these challenges, including the Uganda intervention, may lead to the collapse of the agreement,” Dr. Machar stated in a letter to the UN Secretary-General.
He specifically cited Articles 2.1.5 and 2.1.7 of the R-ARCSS, which address the cessation of hostilities, disengagement of forces, and the withdrawal of non-South Sudanese armed groups. He also pointed to Article 7(4) of COHA, which guarantees humanitarian access.
Dr. Machar argued that the 2018 peace agreement supersedes the 2014 Status Forces Agreement, referencing Article 8.3 of the R-ARCSS, which stipulates that the agreement prevails over conflicting national legislation or agreements.
In his March 23, 2025, letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Peace and Security Council Commissioner Bankole Adeoye, Dr. Machar alleged that the Ugandan troops, equipped with armored and air force units, violated UN Security Council Resolution 2428 (extended by Resolution 2731).
He accused the UPDF of using arms to strike civilians in Upper Nile and Jonglei states, a violation of the arms embargo and human rights.
Dr. Machar asserted that the Transitional Security Arrangement Mechanism, under the Joint Defense Board (JDB), should have managed the Upper Nile clashes internally, without foreign intervention.
He expressed disappointment that Uganda, a key mediator of the peace agreement, had “dented” the peace process.
Despite the presence of Ugandan troops, Dr. Machar stated that the SPLM/A-IO remains willing to engage in dialogue to end the ongoing clashes.