By Yiep Joseph
South Sudan and Uganda have settled on forming a 14-member committee to investigate the recent clashes in Kajo-Keji County.
Last week the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) attacked a small unit of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in Kajo-Keji County of Central Equatoria State.
According to the local authorities, the UPDF attack was an intended invasion of South Sudan territory.
However, the SSPDF downplayed local calls for military interventions and opted for diplomatic means of conflict resolution.
Despite reports of deployment and fresh attacks by the Uganda Army in Kajo-Keji, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces of the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), on Saturday paid a one-day working visit to Juba.
According to the statement extended to the media, Major General Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF Spokesperson, revealed that the Uganda CDF met the South Sudan CDF and discussed a plan to de-escalate the tension in Kajo-Keji.
He expressed that Gen. Dau Aturjong Nyuol SSPDF Chief and Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the UPDF chief met on Saturday and discussed initiatives to resolve the border dispute.
Ruai revealed that during the meeting the military leaders agreed on forming a committee to investigate what led to the clashes in Kajo-Keji County of Central Equatoria State.
“The duo agreed on the immediate formation of a 14-man joint investigation committee with equal representation from both armies. The temporary headquarters of the committee will be based in Gulu, Uganda, and the body will commence its investigative work on the exact causes of the clashes in Kajo Keji County, Central Equatoria State,” Ruai said in a statement.
According to the SSPDF spokesperson, the two military leaders agreed to reach an agreement on ending the dispute at the borders.
He added that after formation, the committee will come up with recommendations that are solution-oriented.
“The Committee is tasked with the responsibility of coming up with recommendations aimed at aiding the two principals to make informed decisions on the implementation of the best solutions to end recurrent border disputes,” he said in a statement.
Ruai added that at the request of the UPDF chief, the South Sudan People’s Defence is poised to make a reciprocal visit to Uganda.
In July at least five members of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) were killed after the Ugandan Army launched heinous attacks in Kajo-Keji County.
Wani Jackson Mule, Kajo-Keji County commissioner, confirmed in a press statement that the country has lost five servicemen in the territorial defense against the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces (UPDF).
A similar attack in June 2020 claimed three lives from the SSPDF and a police officer in the same area, bringing the total fatalities from these cross-border confrontations to nine.