South Sudanese authorities are under growing pressure to act decisively following damning allegations against two senior military officers accused of leaking classified national security information to Somali business networks operating in Uganda.
Colonel Charles Jacob Babu, a senior officer in South Sudan’s Military Intelligence Directorate, and Brigadier Philip Chol Kader, the Military Attaché at the South Sudanese Embassy in Kampala, have been linked to what security insiders describe as unauthorized intelligence sharing, potentially amounting to espionage and a breach of international diplomatic norms.
According to confidential sources within the South Sudanese security apparatus, the two officers allegedly passed on sensitive enforcement information related to cross-border operations, economic surveillance, and regional security deployments.
The recipients of this intelligence are said to be influential Somali business networks based in Uganda, which have expansive economic interests across the region.
“The implications are serious,” said a senior official at South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“This is not just an internal matter, this breaches trust with regional partners and could impact existing agreements on intelligence cooperation.”
Diplomatic observers warn that if the allegations are confirmed, South Sudan may face renewed international sanctions and potential diplomatic isolation. The scandal threatens to undermine the fragile diplomatic progress the country has made after years of internal conflict and previously imposed sanctions.
The South Sudanese Embassy in Kampala has remained tight-lipped on the matter.
However, multiple sources close to the embassy revealed that Brigadier Kader has a troubled history with similar breaches.
While previously serving as Defence Attaché in Kenya, he was accused of circulating conspiracy theories and was subsequently dismissed by the Ministry of Defence in Juba. Nonetheless, he reportedly lobbied his way back into diplomatic service via the General Intelligence Bureau, and was later posted to Tanzania—where sources say he again stirred controversy—before being reassigned to Kampala.
In his current post, Brigadier Kader is also accused of mistreating local embassy staff, whom he allegedly labels “Museveni spies,” threatening to fire them over what insiders call “flimsy and fabricated” accusations.
As pressure mounts, it is understood that Brigadier Kader will be recalled to Juba for questioning. Meanwhile, Colonel Babu has been placed under surveillance and is likely to face formal charges.
Security analysts believe the motivation for the alleged espionage may be financial.
Somali business networks in Uganda wield considerable regional influence, and access to enforcement-related intelligence could offer them significant economic advantages, particularly in sectors related to trade and cross-border movement.
The gravity of the accusations has not gone unnoticed by legal practitioners in Uganda.
Reports indicate that lawyers in Kampala, having obtained details of the leaked information, are preparing to sue the Government of South Sudan for financial compensation. The legal challenge could add a new international dimension to the scandal, potentially pitting South Sudan’s government against private legal actors in foreign courts.
Civil society groups and international observers have urged Juba to ensure full transparency and initiate a credible investigation into the matter. The accusations, if substantiated, would constitute violations of both South Sudanese national security laws and international protocols, including the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection.
With its international reputation still fragile, South Sudan now faces a critical test of its commitment to the rule of law, institutional discipline, and respect for international agreements.
