Museveni in South Sudan to calm rising tensions

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni arrived in South Sudan on Thursday, following the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar, which has raised concerns about the potential for a return to civil war.

Machar was apprehended last week by forces loyal to President Salva Kiir, prompting international alarm over escalating tensions between the two factions.

The United Nations has called for dialogue to address the growing conflict.

The rising tensions now threaten the 2018 peace agreement, which had brought an end to a five-year civil war that claimed the lives of around 400,000 people in the world's youngest nation.

Museveni is the first head of state to visit South Sudan since Machar's arrest and stated on X that his visit was made at the invitation of South Sudan's president.

"I look forward to our discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between our two nations," he said.

However, he refrained from commenting on the ongoing conflict or Machar's detention.

Uganda has long been involved in South Sudan, with accusations of meddling during the conflict. Last month, Uganda sent armed forces to support President Salva Kiir.

Recently, the deputy chair of Riek Machar's party stated that the detention of key figures had "abrogated" the 2018 power-sharing agreement between Kiir and Machar.

Museveni's arrival in South Sudan follows the visit of African Union mediators, who landed in Juba on Wednesday for talks with President Kiir, as confirmed by the South Sudanese presidency.

Additionally, Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga visited the city last week to help "de-escalate" tensions.

He met with President Kiir but was unable to see Riek Machar.

Clashes have erupted in various parts of South Sudan, including near Juba, where Machar's party condemned strikes against its forces.

Groups loyal to Vice President Machar also criticized recent attacks in Upper Nile and southern Central Equatoria, which they say have "caused panic among civilians."

The fighting has already displaced over 60,000 people, according to the UN.

Tensions have been further raised by the arrest of more than 20 of Machar's political and military allies since February, with some held incommunicado.