South Sudan’s parliament is weighing whether to summon top security officials over a deadly border clash with Ugandan forces that left five soldiers dead and displaced thousands, raising fresh concerns over escalating tensions between the two neighboring nations.
The fighting erupted last week in South Sudan’s Kajo-Keji County after Ugandan forces accused South Sudanese troops of crossing into Uganda’s West Nile region and refusing to withdraw. South Sudanese officials, however, said Ugandan soldiers launched a surprise attack on their areas with tanks and artillery, killing five of their troops.
Ugandan army spokesperson Felix Kulayigye announced that one Ugandan soldier died in the exchange of fire.
The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) is debating a call to question the ministers of defense, interior, and foreign affairs, as well as security chiefs, following reports that Ugandan troops crossed into South Sudan’s Kajo-Keji County last week, sparking a firefight.
The move comes after lawmaker Daniel Bech Majok, representing Yirol East County, demanded urgent answers during a parliamentary sitting Monday, warning that the incident could undermine relations between Juba and Kampala.
“Honorable speaker, on July 28, Ugandan forces encroached into South Sudan’s Kajo-Keji County,” Majok said. “I urge this house to summon the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, and interior to explain what happened, and how such violations will be prevented.”
Majok insisted that security officials, including Central Equatoria State’s governor and the police inspector general, must provide a full account of the confrontation and outline measures to avoid future escalations.
“They must explain the root cause and what steps are being taken to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” he said.
Despite South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang confirming a ceasefire, Majok raised alarms over Uganda’s continued military presence, noting that the same forces accused of encroachment are now participating in a joint security operation with South Sudan.
“These are the very forces invited here under military cooperation,” he said. “How can we trust this arrangement if they violate our sovereignty?”
While parliamentary speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba acknowledged the gravity of the incident, she directed Majok to formalize his concerns in a detailed motion for debate.