UN report says Ugandan troops helped South Sudan with deadly airstrikes
## Ugandan Involvement in South Sudan Airstrikes
Ugandan Involvement in South Sudan Airstrikes
A report by the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has stated that Uganda assisted South Sudan in conducting airstrikes that resulted in civilian casualties, predominantly affecting the Nuer communities. These operations were part of joint aerial bombardments targeting opposition-affiliated areas.
Ugandan troops were deployed in South Sudan to support the government led by President Salva Kiir, following a bilateral security agreement. This deployment occurred in response to actions by forces loyal to opposition leader Riek Machar, who faced criminal charges and was suspended as vice president in September.
Military Engagement and Operational Details
The U.N. report highlighted the use of improvised incendiary devices in the attacks. Ugandan forces entered South Sudan in March 2025, equipped with military hardware including tanks and armored vehicles, following an incident where a militia overran a military garrison near the Ethiopian border.
Subsequent to these events, Machar was placed under house arrest, leading to increased reliance on aerial attacks by the government to counter Machar’s forces and other armed groups.
Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has stated that Uganda assisted South Sudan in conducting airstrikes that resulted in civilian casualties, predominantly affecting the Nuer communities.
Uganda's involvement in South Sudan has historical precedence, having intervened on multiple occasions during the 2013-2018 civil war to support Kiir’s forces. However, ongoing hostilities pose a threat to the 2018 peace agreement.
In March 2025, an airstrike in Wunaliet, located 15 kilometers from Juba, resulted in significant destruction, including civilian casualties. Eyewitness accounts described homes being set ablaze by incendiary devices, and a military barracks housing opposition soldiers was also targeted.
Uganda has officially denied participating in combat operations in South Sudan, as well as using chemical weapons and barrel bombs. Despite these denials, flight tracking data cited in the U.N. report indicates the presence of Ugandan military aircraft during the operations.
In a related development, Amnesty International and a U.N. panel of experts reported that Uganda had violated a 2018 U.N. arms embargo. This embargo restricts member states from providing military assistance to South Sudan, including weapons and personnel.
Based on reporting by Africanews.
