Museveni backs renewed push for inclusive dialogue in South Sudan

KAMPALA – Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has backed renewed efforts to revive political dialogue in South Sudan, as regional actors step up engagement amid mounting concerns over delays in the country’s fragile transition.

Museveni, who has been the centre of international attention for controversial deployments of UPDF troops to Juba, made the remarks after hosting Jakaya Kikwete, the African Union High-Level Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, at State Lodge in Nakasero on Tuesday evening. Kikwete is expected in Juba on April 8 as part of his ongoing mediation efforts.

In his statement, Museveni said the two leaders “discussed the situation in South Sudan and emphasised the importance of dialogue among the parties,” in a move that underscores a renewed regional push to bring South Sudanese actors back to the negotiating table.

He added that “Uganda will continue supporting peace efforts,” while linking South Sudan’s stability to broader regional interests, particularly in border areas. “Stability in South Sudan, especially in the Equatorial region where many Ugandans live, is important for regional security and prosperity,” Museveni said.

The comments come against the backdrop of a slow and uneven implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan, with key provisions—such as security arrangements and political reforms—still lagging. Recent violence in parts of Jonglei and continued humanitarian pressures have further raised concerns about the direction of the transition.

Kikwete’s visit to Juba follows the declaration of the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan (C5) Plus Summit on the margins of the 39^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government held in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on 15 February 2026.

The four-page document calls on the Salva Kiir-led government to take urgent steps towards consolidating the progress achieved and to lay the groundwork for a successful organization of the elections including the consideration of releasing all political detainees, especially Dr. Riek Machar, 1st Vice President, in the spirit of national cohesion and reconciliation.

The Nakasero meeting follows Kikwete’s recent consultations in Pretoria, where he met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa currently chairs the Southern African Development Community and the African Union’s Ad-Hoc High-Level Committee on South Sudan (C5), placing him at the centre of parallel regional mediation tracks.

Those talks focused on aligning efforts between the African Union and SADC, amid growing frustration over the lack of tangible progress in South Sudan. Kikwete also chairs the SADC Panel of Elders, giving him a dual role in continental and regional diplomacy.

Despite sustained engagement, analysts say previous mediation efforts have struggled to secure firm commitments from South Sudan’s political leaders, particularly on contentious issues such as unified forces, governance reforms, and inclusivity.

Museveni’s endorsement of dialogue adds to increasing regional pressure, but observers note that the effectiveness of such statements will depend on whether they translate into coordinated action capable of breaking the current political deadlock.

Kikwete is expected to hold meetings with government officials, opposition leaders, and other stakeholders in Juba, as part of efforts to restore momentum to a transition that has repeatedly missed key deadlines and risks further instability if stalled.