Uganda has deployed special forces in Juba, South Sudan, amid escalating tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar following military arrests. The situation threatens the 2018 peace deal that concluded a devastating civil war, prompting Uganda’s military chief to emphasize support for Kiir and warn against actions undermining his leadership.
Uganda has deployed special forces to the capital of South Sudan, Juba, to ensure security amid rising tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. The deployment follows recent arrests of ministers and military officials linked to Machar, raising fears of a possible return to civil war, which previously claimed nearly 400,000 lives between 2013 and 2018.
The increasing unrest in South Sudan has intensified concerning the precarious situation following a 2018 peace agreement. Recent events include deadly clashes near Nasir and the government’s detention of key political figures, which have jeopardized the established peace.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s military chief, announced the deployment on social media, emphasizing Uganda’s support for Kiir. He asserted, “We the UPDF (Ugandan military), only recognize one President of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir … any move against him is a declaration of war against Uganda.”
This is not the first instance of Ugandan military intervention in South Sudan. Troops were deployed in 2013 during the outbreak of civil war, and again in 2016 after renewed fighting. Both deployments concluded with troop withdrawals, but the ongoing threat of conflict remains, leading Uganda to act preemptively to secure its borders.
Kainerugaba did not clarify if the operation was requested by Kiir or articulate the duration of the forces’ presence in South Sudan, highlighting ongoing uncertainties in the region.
Uganda’s deployment of special forces to South Sudan underscores the escalating tensions between President Kiir and Vice President Machar, threatening the fragile peace in the region. With the backdrop of a history of military interventions, the move reflects Uganda’s concerns over potential civil unrest and its implications for regional stability. As the situation unfolds, the long-term presence of Ugandan troops in Juba raises questions regarding the future of peace efforts in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
