UN Report Accuses Uganda of Violating Arms Embargo on South Sudan
A newly released United Nations report has accused Uganda of systematically violating the long-standing UN arms embargo on South Sudan by deploying troops and heavy military equipment across the border, actions it says have escalated tensions in the fragile nation.
According to the report by UN experts, the Ugandan military deployments began in March 2025, coinciding with a flare-up in fighting between South Sudanese government forces and fighters loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar. Machar’s recent arrest and trial have raised fears of a slide back into full-scale civil war, a conflict that has previously claimed nearly 400,000 lives.
While Uganda has openly acknowledged sending a contingent of soldiers at the formal request of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, the UN panel found that the buildup extended far beyond that initial move. The report states that a steady flow of additional Ugandan troops, tanks, armored vehicles, and other hardware has crossed into South Sudan since March. These forces are now reportedly positioned just a few kilometers from the capital, Juba.
The panel concluded that this military presence constitutes a “clear violation” of the comprehensive arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council in 2018. The embargo was designed to curb the flow of weapons and military assistance to all parties in South Sudan, with the goal of fostering peace and protecting civilians.
The Ugandan government has historically been a key ally of President Kiir, having intervened militarily at his request during the early stages of the civil war that began in 2013. Kampala has defended its latest actions as necessary for regional stability and at the invitation of a sovereign government.
However, the UN experts warn that the external military support risks fueling further conflict, undermining the fragile peace process, and exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis. The report is expected to intensify diplomatic pressure on Uganda and could lead to calls for sanctions or other measures in the UN Security Council.
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