Uganda has sent special forces to Juba to support President Salva Kiir against First Vice President Riek Machar amid heightened tensions. The deployment, confirmed by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, comes as political repression escalates against Machar’s allies, raising concerns about the sustainability of the fragile peace agreement established in 2018, which aimed to end a devastating civil war.
Uganda has deployed special forces to Juba, supporting President Salva Kiir amid escalating tensions with First Vice President Riek Machar. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, confirmed that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) commandos have arrived in Juba to commence Operation Mlinzi wa Kimya.
This military intervention occurs as Kiir’s government intensifies repression of Machar’s supporters. Recently, two ministers and several senior military officials aligned with Machar were detained, intensifying fears around the fragile peace established by a 2018 agreement that aimed to end a devastating civil war, which resulted in nearly 400,000 deaths and widespread displacement.
The peace agreement restored Machar as Vice President, but ongoing disputes and delays in its implementation have left South Sudan at risk of renewed conflict. Uganda played a crucial role in past South Sudan conflicts, particularly during the civil war that erupted from the Kiir-Machar power struggle in 2013.
Although the 2018 deal halted major hostilities, challenges remain, especially concerning merging armed factions into a unified national army. Machar’s team has condemned the recent detentions of his supporters and criticized a Cabinet reshuffle that resulted in the ousting of key allies, claiming these actions threaten the already precarious power-sharing arrangement.
Opposition figures now express considerable concern about the stability of the peace agreement, fearing that South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, may be on the verge of returning to conflict due to ongoing internal strife and postponed elections.
The deployment of Ugandan special forces to support South Sudan’s government reflects rising tensions between President Kiir and Vice President Machar. The situation highlights the fragility of the 2018 peace agreement amid political repression and ongoing disputes, raising concerns about a possible return to conflict in the world’s youngest nation. As power struggles continue, the prospects for stability remain uncertain and precarious.
Original Source: www.capitalfm.co.ke
