Kiir pledges to work ‘closely’ with Museveni after disputed Uganda poll

JUBA — South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Saturday evening pledged to work “closely” with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni following Museveni’s disputed re-election, underscoring Juba’s intent to maintain strong political and security ties with Kampala despite opposition challenges to the vote.

In a statement released by the presidency, Kiir congratulated Museveni on what he described as a landslide victory and said the result would allow the two leaders to deepen cooperation between their countries.

“Your Excellency, I warmly congratulate you on your re-election victory,” Kiir said. “I look forward to working closely with you to advance bilateral relations between our two sisterly countries and to strengthen our cooperation on regional and global issues of mutual interest.”

Museveni, 81, was declared the winner of Uganda’s presidential election on Saturday, extending his rule into a fifth decade, according to the electoral commission. Opposition figures rejected the outcome, citing alleged fraud, violent incidents and an internet blackout imposed during the vote.

Kiir’s message reflects South Sudan’s long-standing reliance on Uganda as a key security partner. Ugandan troops have been deployed several times to South Sudan since civil war erupted in 2013, most notably to help secure the capital Juba and support Kiir’s government against rebels led by the now detained First Vice President Riek Machar of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO).

Government supporters in South Sudan have welcomed Museveni’s continued grip on power, viewing him as a reliable ally whose military and political backing has helped prevent the collapse of Kiir’s administration during periods of intense fighting and instability.

Pro-government figures often credit Uganda with safeguarding Juba and preserving regional stability.

By contrast, opposition supporters and civil society activists in South Sudan largely see Museveni as a symbol of external interference that has entrenched the political status quo in the world’s youngest country.

They argue that Uganda’s consistent alignment with Kiir has helped keep him in power without a renewed electoral mandate, contributing to repeated delays of South Sudan’s own elections, blocking political change as well as deadly economic stagnation in the country.

Kiir has remained in office since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, with national elections repeatedly postponed under successive transitional arrangements. Critics say that Kampala’s support has tilted the balance in favour of the government, weakening prospects for a democratic transition.

Uganda has defended its role, saying its involvement in South Sudan has been aimed at preventing wider regional instability and protecting economic and security interests. \

Museveni has also played a diplomatic role through regional initiatives under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which has brokered peace agreements in South Sudan.

There was no immediate response from Museveni’s office to Kiir’s statement. Museveni has previously rejected accusations that Uganda interferes in South Sudan’s internal affairs, saying his actions were necessary to stop the country from sliding further into conflict.

Kiir’s pledge to work “closely” with Museveni highlights the divide in South Sudanese public opinion, as the government doubles down on a strategic partnership it sees as essential for security, while opponents blame that same alliance for the country’s stalled political transition.