Latest news with #borderclash
Al Jazeera
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Border clash between Ugandan, South Sudanese troops kills at least four
At least four members of the South Sudanese security forces have been killed in fighting with the Ugandan army near the countries' shared border, according to local officials, as tensions flare over disputed border demarcations. Three South Sudanese soldiers were shot dead on Monday by Ugandan forces who retaliated after one of their soldiers was killed, Major General Felix Kulayigye, spokesperson for the Ugandan military, said on Wednesday. But Wani Jackson Mule, a local official in South Sudan's Central Equatoria state, said he received the bodies of five soldiers. Uganda has a history of involvement in South Sudan and has long provided military support to President Salva Kiir, including a deployment of special forces since March. A spokesman for South Sudan's military, Major General Lul Ruai Koang, said on Wednesday that military leaders from South Sudan and Uganda have agreed to an immediate ceasefire to enable an investigation of the latest border clash. A statement from local authorities quoted local South Sudan army commander Henry Buri as saying the Ugandan forces 'were heavily armed with tanks and artilleries' and targeted 19 'joint operation' forces. There was no comment from the Ugandan government. An earlier statement by local county officials said there had been 'loss of lives and injuries from both sides'. It was not clear what triggered the fighting on Monday in Central Equatoria. The clashes reportedly occurred in a remote part of northwestern Uganda known as West Nile when South Sudanese soldiers crossed into Ugandan territory, set up camp and refused to leave, according to Kulayigye. 'We had to apply force.' But there are opposing narratives. Mule described the firefight as a 'surprise attack' by Ugandan forces in territory South Sudan considers to lie within its land. Sections of the Uganda-South Sudan border have been contested for years. Leaders from the two countries have set up a joint border demarcation committee whose work is ongoing, Kulayigye said. Officials from both countries have previously said they expect to reach a firm decision in 2027. Although there have been sporadic border clashes over the years, an exchange of fire between the military allies is rare. Uganda sent troops to support Kiir when civil war broke out in South Sudan in 2013, two years after it gained independence from Sudan. The civil war between Kiir and his longtime rival Riek Machar lasted five years and killed about 400,000 people before a power-sharing agreement was reached in 2018. Uganda again deployed special forces in March this year as Kiir moved once again against Machar, eventually placing him under house arrest and stoking fears of a renewed civil war. That has all but buried the power-sharing deal and triggered conflict between the army and members of a militia from Machar's Nuer ethnic community. The Ugandan army has been accused of using chemical weapons, namely barrel bombs containing a flammable liquid that has killed civilians, against Nuer militias in South Sudan's northeast – accusations Uganda has denied.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Ugandan and South Sudanese troops clash at border, killing at least 4
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Troops from Uganda and South Sudan clashed along the border between their countries in a firefight that left at least four dead, a Ugandan military official said Wednesday, as tensions flared over disputed border demarcations. Three South Sudanese soldiers were shot dead by Ugandan forces who retaliated after one of their soldiers was killed on Monday, said Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, spokesperson for the Ugandan military. But Wani Jackson Mule, a local official in South Sudan's Central Equatoria state, said he received the bodies of five soldiers. The firefight occurred in a remote part of northwestern Uganda, known as West Nile, when South Sudanese soldiers crossed further into Ugandan territory, set up camp and refused to leave, according to Kulayigye. 'We had to apply force,' he said. Mule described the firefight as a 'surprise attack' by Ugandan forces in territory they consider to lie within South Sudan. A spokesman for South Sudan's military, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, said military leaders from South Sudan and Uganda have agreed to an immediate ceasefire to enable an investigation of the latest border clash. Sections of the Uganda-South Sudan border have been contested for years. Leaders from the two countries have set up a joint border demarcation committee whose work is ongoing, Kulayigye said. Officials from both countries have previously said that they expect to reach a firm decision in 2027. Although there have been sporadic border clashes over the years, the exchange of fire between the military allies is rare. Ugandan forces have been deployed to South Sudan to help support President Salva Kiir against forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar. Ugandan special forces are deployed in Juba, the capital, and elsewhere in South Sudan. ___ Machol reported from Juba, South Sudan. ___ More AP Africa news:
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Thailand accuses Cambodia of ceasefire violations but truce still holding
Thailand's army has accused Cambodia of violating an hours-old truce, saying that sporadic clashes continued despite an agreement to end the deadly fighting in the disputed border region between the two Southeast Asian countries. Thai troops have retaliated 'appropriately' and in 'self-defence', Thailand's army spokesman, Winthai Suvaree, said in a statement on Tuesday. 'At the time the agreement took effect, the Thai side detected that Cambodian forces had launched armed attacks into several areas within Thai territory,' Winthai said. 'This constitutes a deliberate violation of the agreement and a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust,' he added. 'Thailand is compelled to respond appropriately, exercising its legitimate right to self-defence.' Following peace talks in Malaysia, both Cambodia and Thailand agreed that an unconditional ceasefire would start at midnight on Monday to end the fighting in disputed zones along their 800km (500-mile) border, which killed at least 38 people in five days of clashes and displaced nearly 300,000 more. Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai played down the reported ceasefire violations, and said he had spoken with Cambodia's defence minister ahead of scheduled talks between military commanders from both countries on Tuesday morning. 'There is no escalation,' Phumtham told reporters. 'Right now, things are calm,' he said. Maly Socheata, a spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence, said in a briefing that there had been no fighting along the border since the agreement in Malaysia. The truce deal was set to see military commanders from both sides meet at 7am local time (00:00 GMT) on Tuesday, before a cross-border committee is convened in Cambodia to further ease tensions on August 4 . A Thai army spokesman said those talks were rescheduled for 10am local time (03:00 GMT), but then later told the Reuters news agency that the meeting had been postponed with no new time set. Al Jazeera's Tony Cheng, reporting from Surin province in Thailand, said the Thai military reported 'a couple of clashes in several areas along the border'. 'They did issue a statement saying that the Cambodian military was not respecting the ceasefire agreement. But for the most part, it does seem to be holding,' Cheng said. In Cambodia's Samraong city, 20km (12.4 miles) from the border with Thailand, an AFP journalist said the sound of blasts stopped in the 30 minutes leading up to midnight on Monday, with the lull continuing until dawn. 'The front line has eased since the ceasefire at 12 midnight,' Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a Tuesday morning message on Facebook. Al Jazeera's Barnaby Lo, reporting from the Oddar Meanchey province in Cambodia, said local people reported not hearing 'any exchange of fire overnight and this morning'. A joint statement from both countries on Monday – as well as Malaysia, which hosted the peace talks – said the ceasefire was 'a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security'. The flare-up in cross-border fighting has been the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008 to 2011 over disputed border territory.
France 24
2 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Thai army accuses Cambodia of violating truce as clashes resume
Thailand 's army accused Cambodia Tuesday of violating an hours-old truce, saying clashes continued despite a deal meant to end the bloody fighting that engulfed their jungle-clad frontier. Following peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, both sides agreed an unconditional ceasefire would start at midnight to end fighting over a smattering of ancient temples in disputed zones along their 800-kilometre (500-mile) border. "At the time the agreement took effect, the Thai side detected that Cambodian forces had launched armed attacks into several areas within Thai territory," said Thai army spokesman Winthai Suwaree. "This constitutes a deliberate violation of the agreement and a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust, he added in a statement. "Thailand is compelled to respond appropriately, exercising its legitimate right to self-defense." Cambodia's defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata insisted there had been "no armed clashes against each other in any regions". However, both sides said morning meetings scheduled between opposing regional commanders along the border as part of the truce pact had either begun or were still scheduled to start. "I saw photos of the two leaders shaking hands," said 32-year-old pharmacy worker Kittisak Sukwilai in the Thai city of Surin -- 50 kilometres from the border. "I just hope it's not just a photo op with fake smiles -- and that those hands aren't actually preparing to stab each other in the back." In Cambodia's Samraong city -- 20 kilometres from the frontier -- an AFP journalist said the sound of blasts stopped in the 30 minutes leading up to midnight, with the lull continuing until mid morning. "The frontline has eased since the ceasefire at 12 midnight," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a Tuesday morning message on Facebook. 01:41 'Good faith' Jets, rockets and artillery have killed at least 38 people since last Thursday and displaced nearly 300,000 more -- prompting intervention from US President Donald Trump over the weekend. The flare-up was the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008-2011 over the territory, claimed by both because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. "When I heard the news I was so happy because I miss my home and my belongings that I left behind," Phean Neth told AFP on Monday evening at a sprawling camp for Cambodian evacuees on a temple site away from the fighting. "I am so happy that I can't describe it," said the 45-year-old. A joint statement from both countries -- as well as Malaysia which hosted the peace talks -- said the ceasefire was "a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security". A spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement Monday evening that "he urges both countries to respect the agreement fully and to create an environment conducive to addressing long-standing issues and achieving lasting peace". Both sides are courting Trump for trade deals to avert his threat of eye-watering tariffs, and the US State Department said its officials had been "on the ground" to shepherd peace talks. The joint statement said China also had "active participation" in the talks, hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN bloc chair Anwar Ibrahim in his country's administrative capital Putrajaya. Hun Manet thanked Trump for his "decisive" support, while his counterpart, Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, said it should be "carried out in good faith by both sides". Post-truce tariff deals Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn marked his 73rd birthday on Monday, but a notice in the country's Royal Gazette said public celebrations scheduled for Bangkok's Grand Palace had been cancelled amid the strife. Each side had already agreed to a truce in principle, while accusing the other of undermining peace efforts and trading allegations about the use of cluster bombs and targeting of hospitals. Thailand says 11 of its soldiers and 14 civilians have been killed, while Cambodia has confirmed only eight civilian and five military deaths. More than 138,000 people have fled Thailand's border regions, while around 140,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thai army accuses Cambodia of breaking truce
Thailand's army accused Cambodia Tuesday of violating an hours-old truce, saying clashes continued despite a deal meant to end the bloody fighting that engulfed their jungle-clad frontier. Following peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, both sides agreed an unconditional ceasefire would start at midnight to end fighting over a smattering of ancient temples in disputed zones along their 800-kilometre (500-mile) border. "At the time the agreement took effect, the Thai side detected that Cambodian forces had launched armed attacks into several areas within Thai territory," said Thai army spokesman Winthai Suwaree. "This constitutes a deliberate violation of the agreement and a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust, he added in a statement. "Thailand is compelled to respond appropriately, exercising its legitimate right to self-defense." Cambodia's defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata insisted there had been "no armed clashes against each other in any regions". However, both sides said morning meetings scheduled between opposing regional commanders along the border as part of the truce pact had either begun or were still scheduled to start. In Cambodia's Samraong city -- 20 kilometres from the border -- an AFP journalist said the sound of blasts stopped in the 30 minutes leading up to midnight, with the lull continuing until dawn. "The frontline has eased since the ceasefire at 12 midnight," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a Tuesday morning message on Facebook. Jets, rockets and artillery have killed at least 38 people since last Thursday and displaced nearly 300,000 more -- prompting intervention from US President Donald Trump over the weekend. The flare-up was the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008-2011 over the territory, claimed by both because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. "When I heard the news I was so happy because I miss my home and my belongings that I left behind," Phean Neth told AFP on Monday evening at a sprawling camp for Cambodian evacuees on a temple site away from the fighting. "I am so happy that I can't describe it," said the 45-year-old. - 'Good faith' - A joint statement from both countries -- as well as Malaysia which hosted the peace talks -- said the ceasefire was "a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security". A spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement Monday evening that "he urges both countries to respect the agreement fully and to create an environment conducive to addressing long-standing issues and achieving lasting peace". Both sides are courting Trump for trade deals to avert his threat of eye-watering tariffs, and the US State Department said its officials had been "on the ground" to shepherd peace talks. The joint statement said China also had "active participation" in the talks, hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN bloc chair Anwar Ibrahim in his country's administrative capital Putrajaya. Hun Manet thanked Trump for his "decisive" support, while his counterpart, Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, said it should be "carried out in good faith by both sides". "If they say they'll stop firing, they must stop completely," said 43-year-old Thai evacuee Prapakarn Samruamjit in the city of Surin. - Post-truce tariff deals - Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn marked his 73rd birthday on Monday, but a notice in the country's Royal Gazette said public celebrations scheduled for Bangkok's Grand Palace had been cancelled amid the strife. Each side had already agreed to a truce in principle, while accusing the other of undermining peace efforts and trading allegations about the use of cluster bombs and targeting of hospitals. Thailand says 11 of its soldiers and 14 civilians have been killed, while Cambodia has confirmed only eight civilian and five military deaths. More than 138,000 people have fled Thailand's border regions, while around 140,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia. burs-jts/fox
