South Sudan Vice President Challenges Kenya’s Claim Over Ilemi Triangle

South Sudan Vice President Taban Deng Gai has renewed tensions over the disputed Ilemi Triangle 14,000 square kilometre territory, warning Kenya over its possession.

While speaking during a Cabinet meeting  in Juba on August 29, he could not hide his dissatisfaction with Kenya, stating that he was not happy with the map, openly rejecting the version of East Africa’s boundaries that was presented before him, insisting it wrongly excluded key South Sudanese territory.

According to him, the map failed to show important areas, including what he described as the ‘two horns of the bull’, referring to specific northern regions.

“That section, it is the land of South Sudan. Now the Kenyans are almost agreeing on taking Ilemi,” VP Taban stated. 

He also pointed out that other locations, which he identified as Kafia Kingi and Horfart an Hasa, both South Sudan territories, now claimed by Kenya, are now missing from the map altogether.

“The two horns of the bull, one in the eastern area of the Western Bahr el Ghazal  should not be there. Horfart an Hasa and Kafia Kingi of our territory have also been cut out by the Kenyan Government,” VP Taban stated. 

For Deng Gai, this was not just a cartographic error but a deliberate distortion that needed to be corrected immediately and publicly.

The Vice President then turned his attention to the Ilemi Triangle, a long-contested stretch of land claimed by Kenya, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. 

He argued that the area should never be treated as settled territory, but instead remain officially recognised as a subject of ongoing discussion between the two nations.

Deng Gai recalled a moment from Kenya’s political history, referencing the late President Daniel arap Moi’s decision to deliberately alter Kenya’s map to include the Ilemi Triangle because, at the time, South Sudan, still part of the greater Sudan, was in war; thus, Deng Gai insisted that one cannot take control of another country’s territory just because they are in war.

He claimed that the move sparked public protests at the time, with supporters of veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga among those who pushed back.

“I remember one evening, one midday, late President arap Moi decided to change the map of Kenya to include the Ilemi Triangle,” Deng Gai stated.

Adding, “Those of Raila Odinga went protesting because you cannot annex the land of our brothers because they are in war.”

Ilemi Triangle Dispute and Countries’ Position on Ownership

The Ilemi Triangle remains disputed among three countries, Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia, as Kenya administers the territory, patrolling historical lines dating to 1950, viewing continued control as essential to protecting local Turkana herders who depend on the land’s resources.

South Sudan inherited its claim from Sudan after 2011 independence, with officials periodically challenging the Kenyan administration and asserting that the territory rightfully belongs to South Sudan’s Equatorial region. 

Ethiopia, on the other hand, makes no official claim, though the Dassanech and Nyangatom communities regularly cross into the area, while nomadic groups from Kenya, such as the Turkana, Toposa, Didinga, and Dassanech, clash recurrently over shrinking pasture and water access.