A deadly clash on the Uganda–South Sudan border has left at least six soldiers dead, according to Uganda’s military, in one of the most serious incidents between the two countries in recent years.
The firefight broke out in Uganda’s remote West Nile region when South Sudanese troops reportedly crossed into Ugandan territory and ignored orders to withdraw.
Uganda’s army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, said Ugandan forces retaliated after one of their soldiers was killed, resulting in the deaths of three South Sudanese soldiers. A South Sudanese official, however, claimed five of their troops were killed in what he described as a “surprise attack.”
The two militaries have since agreed to a ceasefire and pledged to launch a joint investigation into the incident.
Border tensions between Uganda and South Sudan have flared repeatedly over disputed stretches of territory, despite the work of a joint demarcation committee tasked with resolving the issue by 2027. While small skirmishes have occurred in the past, such a deadly confrontation between these allied nations is rare.