JUBA — Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni arrived in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Thursday for urgent talks aimed at preventing a return to civil war.
His visit follows the house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar last week, a development that has heightened tensions in the country. Museveni, a guarantor of the 2018 peace deal, was received at Juba International Airport by South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit and other government officials.
“I have arrived in South Sudan at the invitation of His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit. I look forward to our discussion aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between our two nations,” Museveni’s press unit said in a statement.
Museveni is scheduled to meet with Kiir this afternoon, as well as Machar, whose house arrest has further escalated political uncertainty. The arrest follows weeks of clashes between Machar’s forces and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces near Juba.
Regional leaders and international bodies have urged restraint and called for de-escalation to prevent further instability.
