Uganda has deployed special forces to South Sudan to secure Juba amid escalating tensions between Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, threatening the 2018 peace agreement. Military Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba emphasized the deployment’s intent to prevent civil war, while the upcoming IGAD summit seeks to address this growing crisis.
Uganda has deployed special forces to Juba, South Sudan’s capital, to address rising tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar. These tensions threaten the fragile peace agreement established in 2018, following a devastating five-year civil war. Recent actions, including the detention of ministers aligned with Machar, and violent clashes in the Upper Nile region, risk destabilizing the already precarious situation.
Military Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba confirmed the deployment on March 10, asserting that the troops aim to secure the capital amidst fears of a return to civil war. He warned that Uganda would only recognize Kiir as the legitimate president and labeled any aggression against him as a declaration of war on Uganda. The specifics regarding the duration of the deployment or whether it was requested by Kiir remain undisclosed.
This military action reflects Uganda’s concern for regional stability as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which monitors the peace deal, has scheduled an emergency summit for March 12. This gathering aims to tackle the escalating crisis in South Sudan, which is teetering on the edge of another civil war, severely affecting the nation’s stability and security.
The deployment of Ugandan special forces to South Sudan underscores the acute tensions threatening the 2018 peace deal between Kiir and Machar. With clashes reported and key officials detained, the intervention expresses Uganda’s commitment to maintaining regional stability while the international community monitors developments in this precarious political landscape. The IGAD summit is a critical step in addressing these urgent issues.
Original Source: northafricapost.com
