The South Sudan Civil Society Forum (SSCSF) has issued a strong condemnation of recent border clashes between South Sudan and Uganda.
The society has been calling for immediate de-escalation and the establishment of a durable peaceful solution to the long-standing dispute.
In a press release issued on Friday, the SSCSF “unequivocally condemns the recent violent confrontations” between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) in Nyainga-Muda Village of Bori Boma, Kajo-Keji County, Central Equatoria State.
The civil voices’ group described the hostilities as a “grave failure of bilateral diplomacy” and a violation of the East African Community treaty, which promotes good neighborliness.
The clashes, which took place on July 28, reportedly involved the use of “heavy weaponry and artillery.”
As such, the SSCSF noted that the fighting, which broke out in a border area also claimed by Uganda, resulted in at least six security personnel killed and thousands of civilians displaced.
Furthermore the forum extended its “deepest condolences” to the affected families and displaced communities.
In attempts to prevent further violence, the SSCSF has put forward a number of urgent recommendations.
They are calling for a “Joint Non-Aggression and De-Militarization Protocol” that would include the immediate withdrawal of armed forces from all contested zones and the creation of a five-kilometer buffer zone on each side of the disputed boundary.
They also proposed a bi-national Joint Monitoring Team to patrol and verify the area under third-party observation.
Beyond military solutions, the SSCSF is advocating for a more inclusive approach to resolving the dispute.
They proposed the creation of a “Community Cross-Border Council” comprised of elders, women, youth, and local traders to address community-level grievances such as land use and market access.
The forum stressed that these issues cannot be resolved through “top-down approaches alone” and require dialogue facilitated by local governments and civil society.
Moreover, the SSCSF called for the current bilateral border committee to be transformed into a “treaty-backed Joint Border Commission” with a clear mandate to review colonial-era boundaries, conduct joint mapping, and make final recommendations for ratification by both national parliaments.
Lastly, the forum urged both governments to consider inviting a neutral third-party mediator to support the resolution process.
The SSCSF believes that external facilitation is “essential to reduce political bias, build confidence between the parties,” and align the process with regional and international norms.
Additionally they also suggested that if bilateral efforts fail, the matter should be submitted to “binding international arbitration.”
Ultimately, the SSCSF reminded the leaders of both nations that lasting peace cannot be achieved through military force or unilateral actions.
The forum called for “principled bilateral diplomacy, a transparent and inclusive negotiation framework, and a genuine commitment to justice and accountability for affected communities.”
The SSCSF affirmed its readiness to support the process in partnership with national authorities, local communities, and regional actors.
