President Museveni said Thursday, April 3, that he had arrived in the neighbouring South Sudan at the invitation of his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir.
“I have arrived in South Sudan at the invitation of His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit. I look forward to our discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between our two nations,” Museveni posted on his X handle.
His visit comes hours after African Union mediators arrived in the youngest nation’s capital Juba on Wednesday for talks aimed at averting a new civil war after First Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest last week.
The AU delegation’s flight arrived at Juba’s airport on Wednesday afternoon with a “Council of the Wise” which included former Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye and former Kenyan judge Effie Owuor.
Kiir’s government has accused Machar, a longtime rival who led rebel forces during a 2013-18 war that killed hundreds of thousands, of trying stir up a new rebellion.
Machar’s detention last Wednesday followed weeks of fighting in the northern Upper Nile state between the military and the White Army militia.
Machar’s forces were allied with the White Army during the civil war but deny any current links.
Tension is rising in Juba over the new developments.
