By Emmanuel Mandella

A high-level cross-border meeting involving South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Uganda has rekindled hope for regional peace, security, and development.

The historic gathering, held Thursday at Salia Musala in Uganda’s Koboko District, brought together local government officials, traditional leaders, and civil society actors in a show of unity that analysts say could shift the tide on recurring border tensions and underdevelopment.

South Sudan’s Morobo County Commissioner, Charles Data Bullen, described the event as a “milestone” in fostering regional integration, emphasizing the need for cooperation and learning among the neighboring nations.

“We are all the same people—the Kakwa people span across these three countries. Uganda may be the smallest geographically, but it is leading in development. South Sudan and Congo must learn from Uganda’s experience so we can all rise together,” Commissioner Bullen was quoted as saying.

His remarks were echoed by Chukia David Likambo, the Kakwa Chief of the Kumuro border region in the DRC, who called for a “borderless mindset” among the Kakwa communities living across the borders.

“We share culture, trade, and families. We must choose peace over division. Conflicts only harm our progress,” Chief Likambo stressed.

The meeting was organized under the EU-funded Cities Alliance Borderlands Project, a program focused on transforming fragile border zones into engines of peace and economic collaboration. According to Patrick Bongo, a representative of Cities Alliance, the initiative aims to address longstanding disputes and miscommunication that have often fueled border tensions.

“This project is a response to the EU’s commitment to stability in the Great Lakes region. Today’s discussions were recorded and will be evaluated for action. We are optimistic that this will guide future cross-border cooperation,” Bongo said.

The meeting comes at a time when Koboko District has seen a surge in cross-border migration, particularly from conflict-affected Morobo County in South Sudan and parts of eastern DRC. Observers say improved cooperation among local authorities can reduce friction over land use, trade regulations, and the movement of people—issues that have historically triggered clashes.

Meanwhile, Political analyst David Onen, based in Arua, Uganda, believes the dialogue is a “game-changer” if sustained.

“This level of engagement at the grassroots shows that the future of regional peace lies in empowering local leaders to take ownership of stability. The EU’s involvement adds international legitimacy to the process,” Onen said in a phone interview.

The East African region has long grappled with porous borders, refugee flows, and armed conflict. The expanded peace talks and development approach between these three countries could serve as a model for similar efforts in places like the South Sudan–Sudan border or the Uganda–Rwanda corridor.

The African Union Border Programme (AUBP) and IGAD have also emphasized the importance of “soft borders” that allow for cultural and economic exchange while maintaining sovereignty.

“When we build peace across our borders, we are building a future for our children.”

As the EU and local authorities move to document and act upon the resolutions made at the Koboko meeting, citizens on the ground hope that words will translate into actions—and that peace will no longer be a ‘visitor’, but a ‘resident’ in the borderlands of South Sudan, Uganda, and the DRC.