Relationship dossier
South Sudan
Uganda
Relationship assessment
Close political and security ties, including Ugandan military support requested by South Sudan
South Sudan toward Uganda
+45South Sudan’s government requested Ugandan military support during the conflict that began in 2013, establishing a concrete basis for security cooperation with Uganda. South Sudan has also participated in bilateral and regional cooperation with Uganda, though the scope of ongoing government coordination is unclear.
Uganda toward South Sudan
+50Uganda deployed forces to South Sudan in 2013 in support of the South Sudanese government during the civil conflict. Uganda has also maintained close political and economic engagement with South Sudan; the current scope of bilateral security cooperation is unclear.
Overall relationship
+50The relationship has been shaped by sustained political engagement and a significant security partnership, most visibly Uganda’s military deployment in support of South Sudan’s government after the conflict began in 2013. Trade and regional cooperation add to these ties. The extent and durability of current security arrangements are less clear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
South Sudan and Uganda have maintained close political and security ties. South Sudan’s government sought Ugandan military support during the conflict that began in 2013, and Uganda deployed forces in support of the government. The relationship also includes substantial trade and regional cooperation, though the scope and continuity of these arrangements are not fully clear.
Key developments
Uganda deployed forces to South Sudan in support of the government after conflict began, following a request for assistance from South Sudan’s leadership.
South Sudan became a member of the East African Community, strengthening its regional framework for cooperation with Uganda.
Major uncertainties
- The current scope and implementation of bilateral security arrangements are unclear.
- The extent of regular high-level coordination between the governments is unclear.