Escalating South Sudan conflict pushes asylum seekers into Uganda
In response to South Sudan’s deteriorating security, Uganda has deployed troops at President Kiir’s request to help stabilize the situation.
Koboko: The intensifying conflict in South Sudan has triggered a fresh wave of displacement, forcing at least 85 asylum seekers, including women and children, into Uganda’s West Nile region via the Busia Border in Koboko District.
This influx follows escalating hostilities as the fragile 2018 peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar verges on collapse, sparking fears of a return to full-scale civil war.
The South Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) has reportedly taken control of the Busia Border area, prompting Ugandan authorities to close the border to outbound travellers and deploy intelligence teams to monitor the volatile frontier.
SP Collins Asea, the West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, confirmed the asylum seekers were received and handed over to the Koboko Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and Local Council V (LCV) Chairperson for further management.
“We continue to receive refugees from South Sudan through the Busia Border due to the ongoing insurgency,” Asea stated.
“The border remains closed to Ugandans seeking entry into South Sudan, given SPLA-IO’s dominance and ongoing confrontations with the South Sudan Army and the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).”
In response to South Sudan’s deteriorating security, Uganda has deployed troops at President Kiir’s request to help stabilize the situation.
The international community has raised alarms that this escalation jeopardizes the 2018 peace accord, which was meant to end years of civil strife that displaced millions.
According to UNHCR data of September 2024, Uganda hosts over 1.74 million refugees and asylum seekers, more than 950,000 reside in West Nile, with 55% from South Sudan and in 2023 alone, Uganda received 98,232 new arrivals.
As South Sudan’s crisis deepens, Uganda continues to play a critical role as a safe haven for displaced populations, despite mounting challenges in humanitarian support and border security.
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