Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has broken the silence among African leaders on the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, issuing a strongly worded statement that blames both regional and international powers for fueling the crisis.
In a five-page letter shared on his official X account on Tuesday, Museveni responded to criticism reportedly made by the Iranian Ambassador to Uganda over his initial silence on the conflict.
The Ugandan leader, who also serves as Chair of the influential Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), became one of the first African heads of state to address the situation publicly.
“We abhor chauvinism of identity, race, tribe, religion or gender,” Museveni wrote, emphasizing Uganda’s long-standing resistance to all forms of discrimination.
He then outlined four key actors he believes have contributed to the conflict.
Museveni criticized Iran for its refusal to recognize Israel and faulted Israel for neglecting to implement a two-state solution with Palestine.
He also placed blame on Western powers, particularly the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), for overthrowing Iran’s former Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953, which he claims helped pave the way for Iran’s current theocratic regime.
“It is them that created that huge resentment that produced these clerics who have their own mistaken positions,” Museveni wrote.
The Ugandan president further urged all foreign interventionists to exercise restraint, arguing that continued military involvement in the Middle East only escalates tensions.
Museveni’s remarks come amid growing diplomatic strain following Israel’s June 12 missile strikes on Iranian military targets.
As the current Chair of NAM, a 121-member international organization of countries committed to neutrality in global power struggles, his position holds considerable diplomatic weight, particularly in Africa and the Global South.
NAM includes all African countries except Sudan and has historically advocated non-intervention and peaceful conflict resolution.
Museveni’s intervention marks a notable shift in the African diplomatic posture toward the ongoing Middle East crisis.
