President William Ruto faces mounting regional tensions as Burundi accuses Rwanda of plotting an attack and South Sudan alleges Uganda violated a UN arms embargo, testing his leadership of the East African Community (EAC).
The twin crises threaten to destabilise the region, with the United Nations warning of a potential relapse into civil war in South Sudan and Burundi’s president claiming Rwanda is preparing an assault.
South Sudan’s first Vice President Riek Machar, in a March 23 letter to the UN, African Union, and regional bloc IGAD seen by Kenyans.co.ke and authenticated through Machar’s team by Reuters, accused Uganda of breaching a 2018 peace deal by deploying armoured and air units.
"The Ugandan forces are currently taking part in airstrikes against civilians," Machar wrote, urging international pressure for a withdrawal.
Uganda’s Parliament retrospectively approved the deployment, first announced on March 11, with Defence Minister Jacob Markson Oboth calling it necessary to "avoid a security catastrophe."
The allegations follow clashes between South Sudan’s military and the White Army, an ethnic militia allegedly linked to Machar. The UN warns rising hate speech risks reigniting ethnic conflict in the world’s youngest nation, which emerged from a brutal five-year civil war in 2018.
Burundi: Rwanda Denies Attack Claims
Meanwhile, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye told the BBC he had seen "credible intelligence" that Rwanda planned an attack.
"They would say it's an internal problem when it's Rwanda [who is] the problem," Ndayishimiye said.
Adding, "Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed. Burundian people are fighters."
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe dismissed the claims as "unfortunate," stating both nations had agreed on de-escalation.
Ruto’s Balancing Act
The crises add to Ruto’s challenges in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where conflict has raged for months. With Kenya often absorbing regional refugees, his handling of these tensions will be crucial.
As EAC chair, Ruto must now navigate two explosive disputes threatening the bloc’s stability—with no easy solutions in sight.
